Author: Hovhannisian John

ARMENIAN-GEORGIAN ECONOMIC TASK FORCE TO MEET IN BATUMI TOMORROW
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.07.2006 14:46 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ July 7-10 the fifth session of the Armenian-Georgian
Interstate Commission for Economic Cooperation will be held in
Batumi. Georgian and Armenian PMs Zurab Nogaideli and Andranik
Margaryan will chair the meeting. According to the Department of Press
and Information of the Georgian MFA, priorities of bilateral economic
and humanitarian cooperation between Armenia and Georgia are planned
to be determined at the session. Urgent issues, including enhancement
of the contractual basis between the two states will be considered as
well. Within the framework of the meeting a business forum of Georgian
and Armenian businessmen will be held with Participation of Nogaideli
and Margaryan, reports IA Regnum.

GEORGIA ABLE TO FUND ITS SHARE OF KARS-AKHALKALAKI-BAKU RAILWAY
PanARMENIAN.Net
06.07.2006 15:15 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Georgia will finance its share in the building
of Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku railway on its own, Georgian Premier Zurab
Nogaideli said in Baku. In his words, if Georgia ever had some problems
in financing projects like this, these are solved now.
“Georgia will fund its entire share in the Kars-Akhalkalaki-Baku
railway on its own,” Nogaideli said, reports AzerTaj.

NKR PRESIDENT DOES NOT CONSIDER REALISTIC NKR’S PARTICIPATION IN NEGOTIATIONS PROCESS IN FUTURE
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 6 2006
STEPANAKERT, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “Karabakh’s
position has not changed and will not change. Irrespective of
revelations to be made by this or that person, our position remains
the same, as it is exact,” NKR President Arkady Ghukasian declared
after the solemn sitting dedicated to the 13th anniversary of Martakert
liberation held on June 28 in NKR, the “168 hours” newspaper writes.
In response to the question, “after disclosing the details of the
Nagorno Karabakh settlement negotiations by OSCE Minsk Group American
Co-chair Matthew Bryza how much probable is NKR’s participation in the
negotiations as a negotiations part”, NKR President said: “I think,
this is not realistic in these days and in the nearest period, either,
as we all see Azerbaijan’s position and destructive approaches. I do
not consider this will be real today and Azerbaijan will be ready to
negotiate with Karabakh. A wrong impression is formed that this is
necessary for Karabakh. This is necessary for the process. I do not
think that to take part in the negotiations is an end in itself for us.
Of course, it would be good but not for us but for the process.”
Touching upon the issue regarding the role of Azerbaijan’s oil factor
in the conflict settlement, A.Ghukasian said: “I do not think that
victories are decided by a country’s being poor or rich. If you
remember, in 1991-1992 we had incomparably poorer resourses than
Azerbaijan and the war result is exact and unequivocal. I do not
suppose that Azerbaijan’s hopes to strengthen its army with the
resources of oil are realistic, I do not think this is a solution to
the issue or some decisive factor. I consider the Azerbaijani people
does not want a war and we do not want, either. And, in general, there
is no people that wants to solve any issue through a war.” A.Ghukasian
considered ridiculous the statements of Azerbaijani leadership, as,
according to him, “such statements are made by people who not only did
not defend their homeland in 1992-1994, but also kept their children
away from the war.”
“I think we have no occasion for being afraid, our army is able
to defend our homeland, our borders. And such statements should
be condemned by the international community, which, unfortunately,
is not done and this is unintelligible for us. But I hope this will
take place,” NKR President declared.

BASE FOR SETTLEMENT OF NK CONFLICT IS TALKS BETWEEN NOT PRESIDENTS, BUT FMS OF AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIA
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
July 4 2006
The base of the talks’ process on Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict is the consultations between the foreign ministers of the
two countries, but not presidents, Tahir Tagizade, the head of the
press and information policy department of Azeri Foreign Ministry,
told Trend.
He expressed his surprise at the final statement of co-chairs of
OSCE Minsk Group where it was stated the necessity of meeting of the
presidents so that they take the initiatives into their hands. “But
it is clear that the base of the talks process is the contacts and
negotiations between foreign ministers. They should discuss all
aspects of issues, work out a base for possible future meetings and
discussions of the presidents,” Tagizade told.
Besides, he mentioned the equality of the approaches stated in
the statement of co-chairs of OSCE Minsk Group and official Baku
calling for partly settlement of the conflict. The partly solution
in the release of Azerbaijan’s all occupied territories around
Nagorno-Karabakh, withdrawal of Armenian armed forces, implementation
of mine, returning of internally displaced persons and provision
of their security, restoration of communications, etc. Then, after
the restoration of the pre-war composition of the population of
Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Republic, their security will
be ensured. Within democratic and legal process, Constitution of
Azerbaijan Republic and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, it is
possible to define the legal status of Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Besides, Tagizade expressed his surprise at the final statement of
Armenian foreign minister V.Oskanyan. According to the statement,
it is clear that Armenian side offers to look for a new base for the
discussions, told Tagizade.

TIGRAN TOROSIAN: APPLICATION OF SELF-DETERMINATION RIGHT BECOMES MORE AND MORE ACCEPTABLE FOR PACE DEPUTIES
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jul 3 2006
YEREVAN, JULY 3, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. On July 3, NKR
National Assembly Speaker Ashot Gulian met with RA National Assembly
Speaker Tigran Torosian. Ashot Ghulian told him about his meetings
with officials, deputies and representatives of analytical centers
during his visit to the U.S. He said that these meetings were mutually
efficient and useful.
Tigran Torosian informed NKR NA Speaker about the discussions of
PACE summer session in Strasbourg touching upon the discussions on
prevention of forest fires the Azerbaijani delegation was trying to
turn into one more speculation, the first foreign sitting of PACE
Sub-committee on Nagorno Karabakh to be held in NKR, as well as
the forthcoming visit of Leo Platvoet, Reporter on Missing People
in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan of PACE Committee on Migration,
Refugees and Ethnography, to Nagorno Karabakh. It was mentioned that
though during the discussion of the report on the results of the
independence referendum in Montenegro those speaking tried not to make
comparisons with other countries, it was obvious that the application
of the right of self-determination becomes more and more acceptable
for PACE deputies. Torosian also said that during the discussion
of the report on countries not having ratified the convention on
death penalty liquidation it was registered that death penalty was
liquidated in Nagorno Karabakh, unlike other conflict zones.
According to RA NA Public Relations Department, at the meeting they
also touched upon the work of the RA-NKR Interparliamentary Commission:
the Commission’s regular sitting will take place in autumn in Yerevan.

Panorama.am
16:15 30/06/06

ONE MORE AIR GATE MODERNIZED IN ARMENIA
One more air gate is modernized in Armenia, namely, Shirak airport in
Gyumri. Particularly, the dispatcher tower is put into commission in a
ceremonial opening today. Hayaironavigation CJSC concluded a contract
with Check ERA in 2004 to import P3D system in Armenia, particularly
in Gyumri Shirak airport. According to specialists, the system works
well especially in mountainous regions because it ensures better
visibility.
Hayaironavigation CJSC director Eduard Mulsoyan mentions that the
installation of the system is implemented exclusively on the incomes
of the company. According to him, about USD 700,000 is invested,
including USD 200,000 on Check equipment and USD 500,000 for
reconstruction of the facilities.
The unit has 40 employees. Four of them have passed training in Check
Republic and Great Britain. At the moment, Gyumri airport complies
with international norms in terms of dispatcher and navigation
services./Panorama.am/

TALK ABOUT RECAPTURING KARABAKH BY FORCE NOT HELPFUL
Yerkir
30.06.2006 17:01
YEREVAN (YERKIR) – “I was not surprised it caused a stir to tell you
the truth, because we knew — the co-chairs knew — and my predecessor
Steven Mann, the co-chair before I assumed responsibility on the very
day of that interview, knew that what they had just announced at the
OSCE was significant and would, well, make people think twice, and
would spark, as we like to put it, a robust debate in the region. I
was simply in the unenviable position of having been on this newest
assignment for an hour and I was the guy that got to explain the
decision that others had made before me.
No, I wasn’t surprised that a robust debate was sparked. What did
surprise me though was that people spoke so quickly in reacting to
the interview without reading the publicly available document that
the co-chairs issued at the OSCE in Austria, which laid out in much
greater detail everything,” the U.S. diplomat said.
“Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan and their Foreign Ministers
did not agree on the core principles that were developed over the
course of two years by the co-chairs,” Bryza said. However, in his
words, talk about recapturing Karabakh by force or any use of force
by any party is simply not helpful. “My predecessor, Steven Mann, and
my current fellow co-chairs, have exerted all of the creativity and
all the negotiating energy that they could and they have gotten this
framework of core principles as honed as possible in their judgment,
such that the presidents, in their mind, need a little time to think
things over and decide whether or not they can accept or adjust
this framework.
But what we’re saying in the statement is that there is no more room
for diplomatic creativity to make this piece of metal shine a little
bit more brightly. It’s honed and you have to decide whether you
want it or not, or the trade-offs that would have to be made are so
significant politically that it requires the head of state to make
the trade-off. So we’re saying OK, it’s yours now,” Bryza said.
“Even though I didn’t have a hand in drafting the statement, I
can say particularly because I didn’t, I think it’s an excellent
statement. It’s very clear, and lays out in a lot of detail what
exactly the overall set of trade-offs would be.
Demilitarization is the phrase used for troop pull-back, and that, as
the framework indicates, should be, or could be, accompanied by some
sort of process that would lead to a population vote, or a referendum
vote on the future status of Karabakh.
I think that’s, in the Armenian mindset, extremely important, so
that’s what the Azerbaijani side would have to offer the Armenians,
along with the other things within this statement to which I refer you.
On the Azerbaijani side, I think that they are willing to consider the
possibility of some type of a vote on the status of Nagorno Karabakh
if many other elements of this overall package are present. What gets
difficult is how you correlate the withdrawal, or the redeployment,
of Armenian troops with the timing of a vote on the future status of
Karabakh,” Mr Bryza resumed.

OSCE MINSK GROUP CO-CHAIR: US STRATEGIC INTERESTS ON CAUCASUS ARE TRI-DIRECTIONAL
Author: R. Abdullayev
TREND, Azerbaijan
June 27 2007
Matthew Bryza, Assistant to Us Secretary of State, OSCE Minsk Group
Co-chair, said ‘US President George W Bush stated US closing to the
positions of president Ilham Aliyev, which will positively influence
the progress of democratic reforms in the republic’.
Trend reports referring to Azadlyg radio, Mr Bryza said US interests
on Caucasus relate to three spheres: energy, security and democratic
reforms.
“Indeed, we have some energy interests, and we do not restrain from
statements about them. The United States also have traditional
interests in a security sphere. Firstly, this concerns fighting
terrorism, prevention of nuclear weapon distribution, reduction of
conflicts and preservation of territorial integrity of countries in
the region”.
Mr Bryza said also all the conflicts in the region shall be settled
with account for territorial integrity of countries.
“Stating Georgia’s example, one may see that conflicts in this country
shall be settled with account for its territorial integrity.
As to Nagorno-Karabakh, US position is well-known. We support
Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”, Bryza said.
American diplomat said US maintain economic and democratic reforms in
the countries of the region. He said security is based on legitimacy
that calls for both democracy and economic welfare.
Mr Bryza stated White House’s serious interest in democratic reforms
in Azerbaijan. “We feel positive changes in the republic ion this
respect” , – he added.

“ARMENIAN GENOCIDE IS NOT SUBJECT TO DISCUSSION,” CATHOLICOS OF ALL ARMENIANS STATES IN ISTANBUL
Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 27 2006
ISTANBUL, JUNE 27, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. “The Armenian
Genocide is a reality of 90 years. This issue is not subject to
discussion for our people,” Karekin II Catholicos of All Armenians
stated at the press conference taken place in Istanbul.
Karekin II Catholicos emphasized that “similar events must be condemned
by all peoples for the mankind escapes their repetition.”
According to the Istanbul “Marmara” daily, His Holiness mentioned
that all countries, except Turkey, accept the fact of the Armenian
Genocide, as, according to him, there are numerous facts proving the
reality of the Genocide.
Responding the question on the occasion of the last conferences on
the Armenian cause held in Turkey, His Holiness stated that if those
scientific conferences are held to arise the society’s awareness
about the truth, then it is very good, “but if they are organized
for political purposes, they may not serve their goal.”
The Istanbul visit of the Catholicos of All Armenians was covered
by the Turkish press as well. The material relating to the press
conference of His Holiness is entitled in the “Zaman” daily like this:
“The Armenian Patriarch’s Exciting Commentary;” “Radical” used the
title “Karekin II – Genocide is Truth;” “Miliet” wrote “Patriarch:
Recognize the Genocide.” It is interesting that the Turkish newspapers
used the word “Patriarch” instead of the word “Catholicos.”
Turkish newspapers mention that the Armenian Patriarch expressed
satisfaction with the air flights being continued between Turkey
and Armenia. Catholicos of All Armenians mentioned that Armenia has a
great wish to settle its relations with Turkey. His Holiness Karekin II
reminded that Armenians, how much they are spread all over the world,
have their state, so, according to him, the Republic of Turkey must
speak with the state of Armenia.
Responding the question concerning demonstrations of complaint
organized by Turk nationalists on the first day of his visit, His
Holiness mentioned that he visits Constantinople for the first time,
and that those demonstrations had no influence on his impressions. He
expressed a hope that no similar demonstrations will be during the
next visit.

EGYPT TO PARTICIPATE IN YEREVAN AGRICULTURAL FORUM IN SEPTEMBER
Noyan Tapan
Jun 26 2006
YEREVAN, JUNE 26, NOYAN TAPAN. During the June 26 meeting, the
RA Minister of Territorial Administration, Co-Chairman of the
Armenian-Egyptian Intergovernmental Commission Hovik Abrahamian and
Egypt’s Deputy Foreign Minister Fatma Zahra pointed out the high
level of political relations between Armenia and Egypt, noting at the
same time the necessity to take active steps for further development
of trade and economic cooperation, for which both countries have a
substantial potential.
Stating a satisfaction at the results of the 4th joint sitting of
the Armenian-Egyptian intergovernmental commission which took place
during the official visit of the RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian
in December of last year, the interlocutors expressed confidence that
the commission’s decisions will be consistently put in practice.
H. Abrahamian and F. Zahra noted once again that the most promising
sectors of bilateral cooperation are information technologies,
agriculture, energy, public health (particularly, pharmaceutics),
tourism, as well as spheres related to scientific-cultural and youth
issues. Units composed of businessmen to coordinate and implement
mutually beneficial projects have already been set up in the chambers
of commerce and industry of the two countries.
H. Abrahamian said that Armenia is interested in speeding up the
establishment of joint production of insulin in Armenia under the
agreement reached with the Vaxero pharmaceutical company (Egypt)
during the RA Prime Minister’s visit to Egypt.
According to the RA Government Information and PR Department, F. Zahra
stated that the Egyptian side will participate in the agricultural
forum to be held in Yerevan in September of this year.