Author: Harutyunian Christine

ILHAM ALIYEV: "OUR POLICY MUST BE AGGRESSIVE, IT MUST ATTACK"

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Oct 2 2006

Monday Azeri President Ilham Aliyev addressed the audience in the
course of the Parliament’s fall session.

"We should switch to the information and economic attack and strengthen
our external potential", stated I. Aliyev speaking about the ways of
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict’s settlement, Day.az reports.

Aliyev reminded that being elected a President he had set increase of
the military expenditure a principal goal. "We should put pressure on
Armenia, otherwise it will hardy liberate our territories. We should
also be ready for a war", the President underscored. At the same time
Aliyev noted using both political and economic factors Azerbaijan would
be able to turn the heat on Armenia. "Yet, after Azerbaijan becomes a
hundred times stronger than Armenia, the war may become unnecessary",
he believes.

According to the state’s Head, some opponents’ reproaches that the
conflict has not been settled are groundless. "It happens because
Azerbaijan cannot cope with unfavorable proposals. As a President
I will not go to the proposals that do not meet the Azerbaijan’s
interests. It is an issue number one, all our efforts should be
directed to this", the President stated.

Aliyev informed that the OSCE Minsk group Co-Chairs were arriving in
the region current week.

"We do not deny the format, however, we believe other international
organizations can also contribute to the peacemaking process",
he concluded.

Day.az, October 2, 2006 .

DE FACTO INFORMATION-ANALYTICS AGENCY’S COMMENT DE FACTO
Information-Analytics Agency has repeatedly noted that if Azerbaijan
resumed hostilities it would inevitably result in this state’s
destruction. The Armenian armed subdivisions can terminate the
Azerbaijani Republic’s short history. Perhaps, Azerbaijan must be
ready for a war, as the first in the line of succession President
believes. However, the Azerbaijan’s problem is that the Armenian
subdivisions are "ready" for such a course of events. And first of
all it concerns the moral spirit’s level, though, as for armaments,
we do not lag behind the Azeri army that spends hundreds of millions
for its needs.

Generally speaking, a war, blasphemously as it may sound, is favorable
for Armenians, who will face a country stuck in corruption and mutual
accusations, where a part (the Turks) tries to assimilate all the
national minorities. Nevertheless, even taking into consideration
the situation, Armenia is peaceable as always, offering constructive
approaches to the conflict’s settlement every time, unlike its
reflexive neighbor that doubts if to begin a war with Armenia or not,
yet, under condition that "Azerbaijan is a hundred times stronger
than Armenia".

However, Aliyev is not Hamlet, and Azerbaijan will never be "a hundred
times" stronger than Armenia. Moreover, Azerbaijan will never be
stronger than the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, as a party struggling
for its Motherland always relies on the native land’s vivifying saps.

Maybe that is a reason that Azerbaijan denies negotiations with
Nagorno-Karabakh, being aware that it has lost confrontation to it,
and not Armenia. However, going on involving Armenia in the negotiation
process, Azerbaijan is trying to lead the problem’s solution to the
other sphere, where, as practice shows, nothing can be settled. Sure,
Azerbaijan may not agree with the mediators’ proposals, no matter
how weighted they are.

However, the fact can just strengthen the international image
and authority of the NKR, which has been proving to the world its
ability to protect its statehood, and not only at the battlefields,
for fifteen years.

So, I. Aliyev will have to sit at the negotiating table with the
Nagorno-Karabakh Republic President, who was been elected by the
whole nation. The realities’ recognition is inevitable, even for the
politicians staking on "the information and economic attack".

MILITANT INTELLECTUALS DECLARE ‘WAR’ ON GOVERNMENT
Irina Hovannisian

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Sept 30 2006

More than a hundred intellectuals sympathetic to the Armenian
opposition called on Friday for a popular uprising against the
government which they claimed is "illegitimate" and infested with
"criminal elements."

A joint statement adopted by them at a conference urged Armenians
to "declare war on this regime and return power seized by criminal
traitors to the people." They accused the authorities of planning to
rig next year’s parliamentary election.

The militant activists also said their anti-government group
called Intellectual Forum is joining the "anti-criminal movement"
launched by 15 opposition parties the previous night. In a joint
declaration, the parties expressed concern at what they see as a
growing "criminalization" of the government and the political scene.

Intellectual Forum leaders had earlier pledged to name those government
officials who they believe have underworld connections.

However, their angry statement mentioned only President Robert
Kocharian and Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisian.

"These two men have effectively usurped power," a leader of the group,
Rafael Ghazarian, told RFE/RL. "They have not been legitimate since
[the presidential election of] 2003."

Asked to name the alleged "criminal elements," Ghazarian singled
out Minister for Local Government Hovik Abrahamian, Transport and
Communications Minister Andranik Manukian and even Prosecutor-General
Aghvan Hovsepian. "He is simply a criminal element," he said of
Abrahamian. "He has no right to hold any state post."

The latest opposition accusations have already been dismissed by the
Armenian authorities and their supporters. In a joint statement last
week, a group of other prominent intellectuals mostly supportive of
the Armenian leadership described the verbal attacks as an "attempt
to undermine our statehood." They alleged that Intellectual Forum
is being manipulated by unspecified opposition leaders collaborating
with foreign intelligence services.

DUFF: MEPS IGNORANT OF TURKEY’S GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 27 2006

Andrew Duff, vice chair of the European Union-Turkey Joint
Parliamentary Commission, yesterday criticized the European
Parliament’s passage of a report on Turkey, saying that many EP members
are ignorant of the geopolitical importance of fully embracing the
country within the European family.

Duff, a British Liberal Democrat MEP, said, "The EP has taken two steps
forwards and one step back in its approach towards the controversial
issue of Turkish EU membership," urging the Union to encourage Turkey
to continue developing a European brand of Islam that will help to
unite East and West, despite the country’s many current difficulties.

"Without Turkey the EU will hardly succeed in building a serious
common foreign, security and defense policy," Duff said.

He also criticized the article approved by the MEPs on Cyprus, saying,
"It is a pity that we have missed our chance to add value to the
search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The EU
still needs to fulfill its commitment to ending the isolation of the
Turkish Cypriot community."

Stressing that the rejection of an article in the report, prepared
by MEP Camiel Eurlings, that aimed to make Turkey’s recognition of
the Armenian genocide claims a precondition for EU membership, is
"good news," Duff urged Ankara to strengthen its efforts to adapt to
EU standards, especially with respect to freedom of expression.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION DISCUSSED AT OSCE-ORGANIZED CONFERENCE IN YEREVAN

Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE)

Sept 28 2006

YEREVAN, 28 September 2006 – The implementation of the law on freedom
of information in Armenia was the theme of an OSCE-organized conference
and awards ceremony held in Yerevan today.

It brought together government officials, international and
non-governmental organizations, the media, as well as the Armenian
Ombudsman, Armen Harutyunyan.

"Public access to information is a fundamental precondition for
building a democratic and pluralistic society," said Ambassador
Vladimir Pryakhin, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. "It also
ensures every citizen’s right to know and participate in the country’s
political and public life."

Armen Harutyunyan, added: "It is impossible to build civil society
and a real democracy without a full-fledged practice of the freedom
of information."

The event, organized together with the Freedom of Information Centre
and the United States Agency for International Development in Armenia,
was linked to the Right to Know Day, celebrated in several countries
on 28 September each year. It marks the right of individual access
to information held by public bodies and the benefits of transparent,
accessible government.

Following the conference, the annual freedom of information awards
were handed out to the Kotayk Governor’s Office and the official
web-site of the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office, Vanadzor Office
of Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly, to citizen Artak Zeinalian and to
Hripsime Jebejyan, a journalist working for the Aravot daily.

"During my journalistic career I have always tried to make sure my
own right to information is protected, and that officials do not
violate this law," said Hripsime Jebejyan.

The OSCE Office assists Armenia in improving implementation of
the freedom of information law by organizing training courses for
journalists, State officials and the general public.

3 TURKS EXCLUDED FROM DUTCH ELECTIONS FOR REJECTING ‘GENOCIDE’

The New Anatolian, Turkey
Sept 27 2006

Three Turkish-origin candidates have been removed from the Dutch
elections list for not recognizing the Armenian genocide claims,
ahead of the early general elections in the Netherlands set for Nov 22.

The removal of the three Turkish-origin candidates — Erdinc Sacan from
the Dutch Labor Party (PVDA) and Ayhan Tonca and Osman Elmaci from
Christian Democratic Party (CDA) — is the result of the activities
of the Armenian lobby in the Netherlands.

The activities of the Armenian lobby started last week when they sent
a letter to the CDA’s administration saying that its two candidates
back Turkey’s policies vis-a-vis the Armenian genocide allegations.

The campaign also found backing from the Dutch press.

Dutch Premier Jan Peter Balkenende’s CDA announced late Tuesday
the removal of Turkish-origin candidates, Tonca and Elmaci, from the
party’s candidate list. Although Tonca and Elmaci previously expressed
support for the CDA’s stance towards the Armenian genocide claims,
the Armenian lobby claimed that they lied about their support, a move
resulted in them being removed from the elections list.

Sacan’s removal from the PVDA’s list of candidates was announced by
party leader Michiel van Hulten late Tuesday. Van Hulten stated that
ambiguity on the party’s stance towards the Armenian genocide claims
is unacceptable and therefore he had no other choice.

The PVDA, which is supported by Turks in the Netherlands, is expected
to win the most of seats in the elections.

Both parties that have removed Turkish candidates from their lists
stated that their parties recognize the Armenian genocide claims
based on an Armenian proposal submitted by the CDA to the Parliament
on Dec 21, 2004 and approved by all political parties.

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
September 28, 2006 Thursday

ARMENIAN OPPOSITION AND RULING COALITION SLATE EACH OTHER IN PRESENCE
OF PACE RAPPORTEURS

Yerevan September 28

PACE rapporteurs Georges Colombier and Mikko Elo met today with
representatives of parliamentary forces, chairmen of parliamentary
commissions and Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Tigran Torossyan.

One of the participants in the meeting says that during the meeting
the leader of the National Democratic Union party Vazgen Manoukyan
said that people in Armenia are disappointed with the European
structures, who are doing nothing to develop democracy in Armenia and
seem to have become toys in the hands of the present regime.

In response, Colombier said that in order to prove their resolution
to develop democracy in Armenia the European structures may well
exclude the country from a number of projects.

Manoukyan retorted that this would be a blow on people rather than
authorities. The only thing people expect from Europe is to honestly
say what is actually going on in Armenia. For example, CE observers
should have honestly said that only 20% of voters took part in the
constitutional referendum. Instead, they just said that there were
some violations as they wanted to push the constitutional reforms
through at any expense – even through fraud.

In response, Colombier said that the assessments of the CE observers
were based on the information provided by the ambassadors of CE
countries to Armenia.

The member of the National Unity parliamentary group Aghasi Arshakyan
said that the present Constitution of Armenia "has been sewn to fit
Robert Kocharyan who wants to put his comrade Defense Minister Serzh
Sargsyan in his place." Today power in Armenia is in the hands of
8-10 people.

In his turn, the representative of the pro-governmental United Labor
Party Grigor Konjeyan said that before criticizing the government the
opposition should remember the years of their own rule. Both
Manoukyan and the leader of the most radical opposition force
Republic party Aram Sargsyan were Prime Ministers and under Sargsyan
Armenia experienced economic decline.

ELMAR MAMEDYRAOV ACCUSES ARMENIA OF REFUSING FROM DIRECT TALKS ON KARABAKH CONFLICT SETTLEMENT

ARMINFO News Agency, Armenia
September 26, 2006 Tuesday

-TURAN. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mamedyarov accused Armenia
of refusing from direct talks on the Karabakh conflict settlement. He
said yesterday at the 61st session of UN General Assembly that Armenia
occupies an unconstructive position toward resolution of the problem.

He said the conflict’s parties and mediators have accepted a
stage-by-stage approach to conflict settlement as "the only possible
option." The minister said "there are two main questions – the status
of self-government of the population of occupied Nagorno Karabakh
and the withdrawal of Armenian troops from occupied Azerbaijani
territories, which causes disagreements between the two sides."

"We proceed with the assumption that the status cannot be resolved
today. It must be resolved through peaceful democratic and legal
processes and direct participation of the Azerbaijani side and Armenian
community of the Nagorno Karabakh region," said the minister. He also
added that occupants must leave Azerbaijani territories and it is
necessary to create conditions for the safe return of Azerbaijani
internally displaced people to Nagorno Karabakh and surrounding
Azerbaijani regions.

"Such a logical succession of events will create necessary conditions
for the next stage of the conflict settlement. The next stage includes
the improvement of living conditions on the territory that has
suffered as result of the conflict, the restoration of relationships
between communities, socio-economic development and working out of
the model of self- government of the population of the region within
Azerbaijan. Our position is based on resolutions of the UN Security
Council and an OSCE decision, both of which demand unconditional
withdrawal of occupying troops from all occupied territories, and the
restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan,"
stressed Mamedyarov.

TURKEY’S INSISTENCE ON KEEPING ARMENIAN BORDER IS REALLY NOT A POLICY

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 14:55 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ "Unlike other countries, where borders are points of
interaction and activity, Armenia’s borders to the east and the west
remain closed. As a result, regional economic development suffers,
Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at the 61st session of the UN GA,
reports the Press Office of the MFA of Armenia. "However, with Turkey,
it is more than our economies that suffer. It is the dialogue between
our two peoples that suffers. Turkey’s insistence on keeping the border
closed, on continuing to prevent direct contact and communication,
freezes the memories of yesterday instead of creating new experiences
to forge the memories of tomorrow. We continue to remain hopeful that
Turkey will see that blocking relations until there is harmony and
reciprocal understanding is really not a policy. On the contrary,
it’s an avoidance of a responsible policy to forge forward with
regional cooperation at a time and in a region with growing global
significance," he said.

TWO LAWS TO ELIMINATE FREEDOM AND INDEPENDENCE

A1+
[09:24 pm] 25 September, 2006

Tomorrow the NA special session will discuss two draft laws
regulating the Mass Media field which have been processed without the
participation of the concerned sides. Neither are the workers of the
field aware of the content of the laws.

According to specialists, there are a number of provisions in the
drafts about "Amendments to the RA Law on Television and Radio
and Amendments to the RA Regulations of the National Commission on
Television and Radio" which contradict the RA Constitution jeopardizing
freedom of speech. RA NA deputy, author of the present Law on
Television and Radio Shavarsh Kocharyan has also mentioned about it.

"This is a draft which is highly explosive and which will explode
immediately after it is adopted. On the one hand, the authors of
the amendments confirm the "innocence" of the TV channels they own
after which they eliminate the other channels; on the other hand they
privatize the TV and Radio sphere once and for all. From now on all
the outsiders will be excluded from the sphere.

For us, this is another anti-constitutional process which they must not
get away with. This is a peculiar imitation of independent television
and Mass Media; on the one hand private TV Companies (hand-picked
by them, of course) are given licenses, and on the other the whole
field is monopolized by the government.

All this will result in a terrible mess and anarchy inside the
system. This is a document which will become a way of sanction for the
whole TV-Radio field" said Mesrop Movsesyan, head of "A1+" TV Company,
about the new draft amendments.

KARABAKH ISSUE SOLUTION REMAINS PRIORITY TASK-ARMENIA PRESIDENT
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 21, 2006 Thursday

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan said on Thursday that a "just
settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue remains a priority task."

He spoke in the Armenian capital during a military parade on the
occasion of the 15th anniversary of the republic’s independence.

In the words of the president, the settlement "can be based only on
the recognition and respect of the right of the Karabakh population
to self-determination." "Nothing should threaten independence and
stable development of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic," stressed the
Armenian president.

"In the foreign policy sphere Armenia has shown itself as a stable,
reliable and predictable partner," the head of state emphasised.

"We are successfully deepening the country’s international integration
at the same time preserving and strengthening traditional ties,"
Kocharyan stressed.

The history of 15 years of Armenia’s statehood included a war, energy
crisis, blockade and all the difficulties of the transitional period,
the president pointed out. "Armenia today is a stably developing
state," he went on to say. According to Kocharyan, the country "is
successfully implementing reforms in all spheres and stably high
tempos of economic growth are turning Armenia into a country of new,
wider possibilities." He said, "This is of vital importance, because
a competitive and efficient economy is the most important guarantee
for building of a truly democratic state."

In the words of the Armenian president, the army "today is our
pride." According to him, "The Armenian Armed Forces ensure reliable
defence of the motherland of the whole Armenian nation."

Among the country’s priority tasks the head of state named "overcoming
poverty, ensuring a new quality of life and equal development across
the country’s territory."

Kocharyan said the contribution of the Armenian diaspora outside the
country to the formation of the Armenian state is "priceless."