Author: Harutyunian Christine

OSCE MG BERNARD FASIE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE IN REGION IN APR – ELMAR MAMMADYAROV
Author: R.Abdullayev

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 27 2006

Bernard Fasie, the French co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, is
expected to arrive in the South Caucasus region in April, Trend
reports quoting Elmar Mamdyarov, the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister,
as saying to journalists on Monday.

“During the last visit to Baku Steven Mann, the U.S. co-chair of
the OSCE, voiced the proposal on possible visit of Fasie to Baku,”
Mammadyarov stressed. The same time he said that the exact date of
the visit had not been determined yet.

Besides, Mammadyarov noted that he had not received any proposals on
meeting with his Armenian counterpart Vardan Oskanian. As to discussion
of new initiatives, the Azerbaijani Minister said that most elements
had already been unified. “We know the way, which we will adhere to,”
he added. The same time, Mammadyarov admitted that some serious issues
still remained unsolved.

“These are principal issues and we are working on them,” he underlined.

ACCORDING TO ARTASHES GEGHAMIAN, OTHER PEOPLE AS WELL TO SUFFER FATE OF FORMER HEAD OF PRESIDENT’S STAFF

Noyan Tapan
March 27 2006

YEREVAN, MARCH 27, NOYAN TAPAN. Artashes Toumanian, the former head
of the RA President’s staff who had stated about his intention to
create a party, probably changed his mind. Hrayr Karapetian, the
Secretary of the RA NA “ARF” faction interpreted Toumanian’s leaving
the political field in this way.

According to him, parties must be created on ideologies and
conceptions, and when those ones are absent, creation of parties
isn’t justified, irrespective of the fact who creates that party. “I
feel sorrow when a man who encoureged Kocharian on October 28, 1999,
at the time when everybody stepped back of him, who has in future
been his staff’s head for about 7 years, was both discharged his
post for incomprehensive reasons, and left the political field as
well,” Artashes Geghamian, the head of the “Azgayin Miabanutiun”
faction mentioned.

According to him, other people as well, who has acted like Artashes
Toumanian, will appear in the same situation in future. According to
Geghamian, if there are serious reasons for discharging Toumanian, they
didn’t naturally appear just now. According to him, the authorities
give opportunity and even they instigate this or that official to
carry out illegal actions, to blackmail them in future. He expressed
a hope that the given case in another.

Sitting of the Parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasus to be held in Berlin

ArmRadio
24.03.2006 13:50

The sitting of the Parliamentary Assembly of South Caucasus, which was
previously scheduled late March, will be held in April in Berlin,
member of the initiating group from the Azerbaijani side, Deputy Zahid
Oruj said, noting that issues of integration of South Caucasus
countries in different spheres will be discussed during the
sitting. He noted also that discussions will center also on the topic
of `The precondition of peace and a view into future.’

The sittings are being held at the initiative of the British `Links’
organization.

Focus News, Bulgaria
March 24 2006

8 New HIV Cases Registered in Armenia Since Beginning of the Year

24 March 2006 | 17:47 | FOCUS News Agency

Erevan. Eight new HIV cases have been registered in Armenia since the
beginning of the year, the Caucasus Memo reports.
According to the data provided by the Republican Centre for HIV/AIDS
Prevention for the period 1998 – March 1st 2006, there are 390 HIV
cases in Armenia.
The number of the newly infected people in the country in 2005 is 78,
and 75 of them are Armenians.

Filipino singer wins world jazz competition in London

Philippine Daily Inquirer; Mar 24, 2006
Tonette Orejas

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO-ONCE again, a Filipino is the best of ’em.

Jazz singer Mon David won the grand prize in the prestigious London
International Jazz Competition (LIJC) last Wednesday, besting 106
vocalists from 27 countries.

The 52-year-old native of Pampanga began his performance at the
finals-held at the Cadogan Hall in London’s Sloane Square-with a few
bars of an ethnic chant, singing a cappella the first lines of “Nature
Boy,” and then crooning “My One and Only Love” and “Lullaby of
Birdland.”

As LIJC Jazz Vocalist 2006, David will receive oe1,000 (nearly
P90,000) and take on engagements at the Jagz in Ascot and the 606 Club
in Chelsea.

Confirming on Thursday news of his winning, David told his friends in
Pampanga that in his spiel, he shared his “amazement at how music can
transcend borders and cultural differences, how it can bring people
together, how it can truly set us free.”

Said David’s 19-year-old daughter Nikki: “We were asking him if he had
felt like he won it after he performed. He said he knew he had
connected with the audience and with his band. He was able to get them
hooked from the beginning. He wasn’t consumed by nervousness and
anxiety because he really enjoyed performing. At a certain point, he
said he was in a trance.”

Only Asian

David was the only Asian among the 12 who made it to the finals. (At
the March 18 semis, he sang “Waltz for Debby,” “No More Blues” and
“Skylark.”) He outdid Dan Barnett and Karlie Bruce of Australia,
Torsten Goods of Germany, and Heidi Martin and Alison Wedding of the
United States.

The finalists were scored on intonation, jazz vocal sound, time feel,
interpretation and phrasing, innovation concept, improvisation and
convincing stage presence.

The judges included Lee Gibson and Tina May, described as “two of
Britain’s finest jazz vocalists and educators,” LIJC executive
director Ursula Malewski, jazz vocalist Ian Shaw, and Pete Churchill
and Adam Sieff, jazz consultants with Sony BMG Music International,
Dune Records and DDE Records.

According to the LIJC, the contenders from Britain, Armenia, Austria,
Australia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy,
Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain,
Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United States were of “an
exceptionally high and professional standard.”

Revival advocate

David, who is due to return to the Philippines on April 5, is expected
to get a grand welcome in Pampanga where he is an advocate of
Kapampangan culture revival, according to Robby Tantingco, director of
the Center for Kapampangan Studies of the Holy Angel University.

A recipient of the 2004 Most Outstanding Kapampangan Award (in the
arts, culture and music), David supported the revival of folk songs
recorded in musical compact discs by the Crissot Foundation, ArtiSta
Rita Foundation and the center, and their inclusion in his recordings
and concerts.

Smart Communications president Manny V. Pangilinan helped fund David’s
trip to London.

Germany too strong for Armenia
Tuesday, 21 March 2006
by Steffen Potter
from Frankfurt

Germany recovered from conceding an early goal to the
Armenia senior team to win their latest warm-up match
for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship 3-1 in
Ahlen.

Slick football
Having been beaten 2-1 by a Latvia side who qualified
for UEFA EURO 2004′ last month, Dieter Eilts’s side
got back on track by performing impressively at the
Wersestadion, despite Aram Hakobyan putting the
visitors ahead in the seventh minute. Germany
initially struggled to regroup, but were playing some
slick football by the time 1. FC Nürnberg’s Stefan
Kiessling converted a David Odonkor cross in the 36th
minute.

Fine finish
Germany assumed full control after the break and
created plenty of scoring opportunities. Captain
Christian Schulz led by example in the 58th, scoring
with a drive from range which left Armenia goalkeeper
Gevorg Kasparov without a hope. Malik Fatih made it
3-1 with eleven minutes remaining, ensuring a
comfortable end to the game for the home side.

‘Room for improvement’
Eilts said: “We saw the team change its approach
during the match, and once we found our groove we
showed considerably more spirit. However, there is
still room for improvement.” Germany next tackle
fellow finalists the Netherlands on 17 May, a week
before both teams depart for Portugal.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

DID ARMENIAN SPECIAL SERVICES PLOT AN ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT AGAINST AZERI PRESIDENT?

16:2 4 03/20/2006

“Counter-intelligence into the case of junior sergeant of N military
unit of the Azeri Defense Ministry Bekirov Ruslan Hagani Oglu, 1985,
called up by the Shamkir military commissariat and held in captivity
by the Armenians Feb 15-May 7 2005, has proved that he was in secret
cooperation with the Armenian secret services,” reports APA, referring
to the PR department of the National Security Ministry.

Misled by the Armenians, the commander of the N unit Ruslan Bekirov,
together with his men Abdulayev Hayal Idris Oglu, 1986, and Tagiyev
Hikmet Adem Oglu, 1983, deserted to the enemy Feb 15 2005, thereby
betraying his Fatherland and causing detriment to the national
security, sovereignty, territorial integrity and defense of the
Azerbaijani Republic.

Upon being brought back from captivity by ICRC, Bekirov admitted his
cooperation with the Armenians. But counter-intelligence showed that
Bekirov’s first testimony was part of the Armenians’ secret plan. As a
result, Bekirov confessed that the Armenians persuaded him, Abdullayev
and Tagiyev into secret cooperation.

They met with Bekirov 7 times and, finally, got him to pledge secret
cooperation on paper and video. They nicked him “Ramin” and told
him how to keep contact. They promised him $3,000-4,000 for each
mission. An Armenian secret agent, calling himself Rudik, told Bekirov
to organize blasts on the route of the Azeri president, at BTC and in
the territory of Haydar Aliyev Airport as well as to photograph various
military-strategic facilities and to send the pictures to Armenia.

All the above facts were proved. The Military Council of the AR Court
on Grave Crimes ruled Oct 7 to imprison Bekirov and Abdullayev for
12 years — for high treason (article 274), desertion at war time or
on duty (334.3), abuse of duty (338.1) and abuse of powers (341.3),
while Tagiyev for 11 years — for high treason (274), desertion at
war time or on duty (334.3) and abuse of duty (338.1).

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA SEEKING TO CONTINUE TALKS – US OFFICIAL

Assa-Irada, Azerbaijan
March 17 2006

Baku, March 16, AssA-Irada
The talks on settling the long-standing Armenia-Azerbaijan Upper
(Nagorno) Garabagh conflict are not stagnant, Armenian media quoted the
US Department of State Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian
Affairs Daniel Fried as saying.

Fried told a news briefing in Yerevan that judging by the meetings
held between the two countries’ leaders so far, it could be concluded
with confidence that the peace process will continue.

“The two presidents are decisively defending their national interests,”
said Fried.

The discussions held by the two leaders in the French town of
Rambouillet in February turned out fruitless, as the parties failed
to iron out issues of principle, which was followed by mutual threats.

The US official went on to say that prior to his visit to the region,
he and the American co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group brokering the
conflict settlement, Steven Mann, met with the two other mediators
from Russia and France and obtained their full support. The Assistant
Secretary dismissed the assumptions that there are discrepancies
among the intermediaries.

Steven Mann speaking at the news briefing concurred that the Azeri
and Armenian heads of state are interested in moving the peace process
forward. “The United States is ready to support their efforts by all
means,” he added.

THE HERO’S IMAGE AS THE FOUNDATION FOR UPBRINGING

Yerkir/am
March 17, 2006

On March 15, 1921 in Berlin Soghomon Tehlerian shot one of the
organizers of the Armenian Genocide, the internal affairs minister
of the Young Turks, Taleat. The fact that Tehlerian is not a murderer
cannot be questioned.

Otherwise, the German court would not have declared him innocent. The
fact that Tehlerian is a national hero cannot be questioned either.

Do we, the citizens of the XXI century Armenia need Tehlerian’s image
as the foundation for the upbringing of the young generation? Some give
a negative answer to this question. Their justification is as follows:
the fact of existence of people like Tehlerian means that an entire
nation, an entire state, has delegated its duties to one or several
persons thus depriving itself of the responsibility of development,
strengthening and self defense. They derive another thesis from this
explanation: a person like Tehlerian could be born only in the context
of the situation that existed in 1921, and one Tehlerian is more than
enough for our nation.

If the authors of this position mean that the nation and the state
should always act as a collective entity and should not rely on heroes,
then it is difficult not to agree with them. If what they want to say
is a desire that we, as a nation and a state, would not have to face
such tragic moments in our history, then again we can understand them.

But we can never accept the opinion that we don’t need the image of
individuals like Tehlerian today, that we should not use this image
as the foundation for the upbringing of Armenian citizens. And this
is why we think so.

We are right to say that Tehlerian was a phenomenon particular to
the reality of 1921. But with the same logic, Vardan Mamikonian was a
phenomenon of the reality of 451, Davit Bek, Aram Manukian, Andranik,
Dro, Nzhdeh, and all other heroes were phenomena of their particular
historic contexts.

A hero is someone whose image is not qualified by the category of time.

Otherwise, no one would remember them. Besides, had the nation failed
to put the image of Vardan Mamikonian at the foundation of upbringing
of its children, there would be no Aram Manukian, Andranik and Nzhdeh
in the centuries to come.

Had the young generations not been taught about these heroes there
would be Tehlerian, and no heroes of the Artsakh war.

After all, what Tehlerian did was not an expression of the weakness
of the state but an act of restoration of justice. Therefore, the
image of the soldier of justice must always underlie the upbringing
of our young generation if we don’t want to turn into a mechanical
collectivity of weak biological creatures.

SHALL WE OPEN THE WINDOW OF DEMOCRACY IN 2007?

Panorama.am
15:01 18/03/06

“The Process of State Security (PSS) will be ready till the end of
the year, later hearing will be held in the Parliament and it will
be represented to the society,” informed NA Deputy, “Orinats Yerkir”
vice president Mher Shahgeldyan. And as a draft law the PSS will be
introduced to the NA only in 2007. Thus, the NA Deputy stated the
importance of adopting the Process as it will raise the positions of
Armenia from the view point of democratization. “The 2007 can be a
window for Armenian democratization,” the speaker noticed.

The NA Deputy also touched upon the meeting of OSCE Minsk Group
co-chairs expected to take place in Istanbul on March 20. He
particularly mentioned that Nagorno Karabakh negotiation process will
be continued. The Deputy called the 2006 a window, but this time
a window for Karabakh issue regulation. And he finds it natural
that the meeting is to be held in Istanbul: “I see no context
here.” /Panorama.am/