Author: Hovik Karapetian

IRAN, ARMENIA TO FINALIZE RAILWAY ACCORD

Press TV
April 14 2009
Iran

Iran and Armenia will finalize an agreement on the construction
of a railway that connects the two countries and enhances economic
cooperation.

"Iran and Armenia should promote relations in different areas including
trade, energy and transportation," Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
said in a Monday meeting with his visiting Armenian counterpart
Serzh Sargsian.

Earlier this month, the two neighboring countries agreed to implement a
joint project on construction of a 470-kilometer (292-mile) railway,
the bulk of it passing through Armenian territory. The project
will take at least five years and cost up to USD 1.2 billion (EUR
892 million).

The railway, which will amount to a restoration of the historic
Silk Road, is especially important to Yerevan as it will connect
the northern lake city of Sevan to the southern city of Meghri,
which borders Iran.

"An advanced and sustainable Armenia will be beneficial to the entire
region," Ahmadinejad said.

Sargsian, for his part, called for bolstering relations with Iran.

The Armenian president arrived in Tehran on Monday at the head of a
high-ranking politico-economic delegation and was officially welcomed
by Ahmadinejad.

Armenian-Iranian trade amounted to a modest USD 226.6 million last
year. The amount is expected to rise sharply when the railway is
completed.

PRESS RELEASE
Haigazian University
Public Relations Director
Mira Yardemian
Mexique Street, Kantari, Beirut
P.O.Box. 11-1748
Riad El Solh 1107 2090
Tel: 01-353010/1/2
01-349230/1

Haigazian University Celebrates the Laying of the Foundation of its
Heritage Building

Beirut, January 28, 2009- On January 27, 2009, during a small, yet
festive ceremony, Haigazian University laid the foundations of its newly
acquired Heritage Building, in the presence of the President of the
Union of the Armenian Evangelical Churches in the Near East, Rev.
Meguerdich Karageozian, University President, Rev. Dr. Paul Haidostian,
Member of Parliament, Hagop Pakradouni, in addition to Board members,
staff, faculty and project consultants and engineers.

In his word of welcome, President Haidostian talked about the role
Haigazian University conducts in preserving culture, and in this case
preserving the outer façade of the building and refurbishing the inner
parts in a most modern way. In addition he thanked all the supporters of
this building project, the past and future donors, Board members, and
all those who are playing a role in making this possible.

Then, Public Relations Director, Mira Yardemian, invited a select number
of staff, faculty, alumni and board members to fill the safe box with
items of relevant symbolic values to Haigazian University. Items
included a Holy Bible in Armenian, the Haigazian constitution and
bylaws, cedar wood from Lebanon, soil from Armenia, the annual report of
the Armenian Missionary Association of America, the 2008 issue of the
Haigazian Armenological Review, the university yearbook, Focus, the
Alumni newsletter, Inspirit, the university catalogue, a Lebanese bill
of 1000 liras, and a USB including the daily newspapers in electronic
form.

Following this ritual, Rev. Karageozian and Vice Chair of the Board of
Trustees, Rev. Robert Sarkissian, and MP Pakradouni, joined President
Haidostian in safely depositing the box under the soil and to laying the
foundation over its cover.

Rev. Karageozian read a passage from the Bible, Ephesians 2:19-22 ,
followed by a prayer of dedication.

With its 6 floors and around 1260 meters total square surface, the new
Heritage Building will serve a dual academic and administrative purpose.
And as President Haidostian stated, "it will be an additional link
between Mexique and May Ziadeh streets, hoping to symbolize more and
more open channels, transparency, and gentle communication among
people".

Laying the foundation of the Heritage building was a cornerstone in
Haigazian’s history of expansion. The project started a few years ago,
and almost one year is left for its completion. The major part of
fundraising has been already conducted by the AMAA, and Board members in
the USA. Yet, the challenge lies in accomplishing the remaining campaign
to be carried out during this year also in Lebanon.

Indeed, it is worth concluding with few quotes from Rev. Karageozian’s
prayer, saying, "Lord, we are laying the foundation for the construction
of a facility in which future generations will work, meet and study. We
pray that you empower Haigazian University to accomplish your purposes
for the community, and through it, for the whole creation."

FORMER SPOKESMAN OF ARMENIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY: "THE YEAR OF 2008 WAS MARKED BY THE UNWILLINGNESS OR INABILITY OF ARMENIAN POWERS TO PROPOSE NEW IDEAS ON THE KARABAKH CONFLICT"

Today.Az
politics/49992.html
Jan 8 2009
Azerbaijan

Vladimir Karapetyan, the former spokesman of Armenian Foreign Ministry
and coordinator of external ties of oppositional Armenian National
Congress, considers that the year of 2008 was primarily marked with
close negotiation process and unwillingness or inability of Armenian
powers to propose new ideas and positions on the Karabakh conflict,
clear for the people.

"The inability of powers to refute definite comments, voiced by
Turkey and Azerbaijan, weakened positions of Armenia in the result of
a loss of the image of the country, the growing threat of sanctions
and unusual passiveness of Karabakh are obvious", noted Karapetyan.

He said the culmination of this situation was the adoption of
the Moscow declaration without participation of Nagorno Karabakh
representatives.

"It was explained by the fact that the declaration fixes commitment to
settle the conflict peacefully, but Azerbaijan did not stop voicing
bellicose statements. In fact, we have made a unilateral concession,
signing a document without Karabakh’s participation for the first
time since 1994", noted Karapetyan.

This year, he thinks, Armenia must do everything possible to strengthen
its positions in the negotiation process.

Grayr Karapetyan, vice speaker of the Armenian parliament and member
of Dashnaktsutun, is optimistic about the process of the conflict
resolution.

He noted that in 2008 they managed to exclude the conflict resolution
by armed way while in 2009 efforts on the conflict resolution will
continue under the auspices of the Minsk Group.

In turn, secretary of the faction of "Flourishing Armenia" Aram
Safaryan, head of the parliamentary delegation of Armenia in OSCE,
noted that the rapporteur of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on
Nagorno Karabakh Goran Lennmarker will present a regular report on
the resolution of the Karabakh conflict on February 19-20 and in
this connection on February 9-10 he will visit Armenia, then Baku
and perhaps Nagorno Karabakh.

Safaryan also voiced hope that the development of the process of
the conflict settlement will continue in 2009 and also did not rule
out involvement of new mediators to the process. At the same time,
he noted that international organizations to work with OSCE may also
be mediators.

"New mediators will appear depending on the rates of the resolution
process", said Safaryan.

ARMENIAN BOXER WINS THE WORLD CUP

armradio.am
15.12.2008 17:44

Armenian boxer Andranik Hakobyan (75 kg) became the winner of the
World Cup by defeating his Venezuelan contender Alfonso Blanco 10:9
in Moscow.

The newly appointed President of the Boxing Federation of Armenia,
Arman Muradyan, and the First Vice-President of the Federation,
Vice-President of the European Boxing Federation Dertenik Gabrielyan
were in Moscow to follow the competition.

CONCERT DEVOTED TO ZAREH SAHAKYANTS

Panorama.am
18:17 08/11/2008

75th anniversary of the founder of chamber orchestra in Armenia,
Professor Zareh Sahakyants will be celebrated in the Chamber Music
Hall named after Komitas.

Araks Davtyan (soprano) is the soloist of the concert.

Famous violinist, conductor Zareh Sahakyants was born in 1933,
in Rostov Donne. Sahakyants studied in the Conservatory of
Yerevan and later in Moscow at famous instructors K. Dombaev and
Y. Yankelevich. Sahakyants received an award of honorable artist.

MOSCOW TALKS ON KARABAKH WILL FACILITATE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT – ALIYEV

Interfax
Nov 5 2008
Russia

A joint declaration on Nagorno-Karabakh, signed in Moscow, provides a
good foundation for a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh problem,
Azeri President Ilham Aliyev said after talks with his Turkish
counterpart Abdullah Gul in Ankara on Wednesday.

"The idea of the declaration is that it reflects international law,
and supports the decisions and resolutions adopted in compliance
with international law. It also gives attention to a step-by-step
settlement of the problem," he said.

The Azeri president also underscored Turkey’s role in settling this
problem. "We thank Turkey for the efforts being made to settle this
problem fairly, and welcome its active role in these processes,"
he said.

The Turkish president in turn said that the meetings, the dialogue
and the conditions being created would facilitate the settlement of
problems in the Caucasus.

"The Karabakh conflict ranks first in this context, of course. I
would say a new stage is beginning in the settlement. Turkey supports
meetings between presidents Aliyev and Sargsyan in Moscow, and hopes
this practice will be continued. We would like each party to do all
it can in this direction," Gul said.

The Russian, Azeri and Armenian presidents met in Moscow on Sunday
and signed a declaration on the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict, earlier reports said.

The parties "will work to improve the situation in the South Caucasus
and to create an atmosphere of stability and security in the region
by way of political settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based
on the principles and norms of international law," the document says.

The parties have agreed that "the attainment of peaceful settlement
must be backed by legally binding international guarantees for all
its aspects and stages," the declaration says.

ARMENIA TO ASSUME BSEC CHAIRMANSHIP OCT. 23

PanARMENIAN.Net
10.10.2008 17:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The regular meeting of the Council of Foreign
Ministers of the Organization of Black Sea Economic Cooperation will
take place in Tirana on October 23.

"Armenia will assume chairmanship in the organization during the
meeting," Tigran Balayan, the RA MFA media relations division head,
told a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter.

The BSEC includes Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Greece,
Georgia, Moldova, Russia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER 26 – OCTOBER 2, 2008

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ARMENIA OF PACE
RESOLUTIONS AND LOCAL SELF-ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE

COMPLICATED STORY WITH A TRAGIC END

COURT STARTED HEARINGS OF THE CASE OF IJEVAN MUNICIPALITY VERSUS
"INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS"

CANDIDATE TO THE PREFECT POSITION ANNOUNCED THAT TV COMPANIES REFUSED TO
BROADCAST HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA: DIGITALIZATION SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO REDUCE DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY

GOLD KEYS AND RUSTY LOCKS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER

"SHOGHAKAT" MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING

"PRESS CLUB" AND "PRESS CLUB+": ACCOMPLISHMENT OF ARMENIA OF PACE
RESOLUTIONS AND LOCAL SELF-ADMINISTRATION INSTITUTE

On October 1 another show of "Press Club" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Open Society Institute Human Rights and Governance Grants Program. The
guests of the "Press Club" host, the President of Yerevan Press Club Boris
Navasardian, were Observer of First Channel of Public Television of Armenia
Armen Dulian, Responsible for Foreign Relations of Armenian National
Congress Vladimir Karapetian, and the Director of International Center of
Human Development Tevan Poghosian. "Press Club" participants continued last
program’s discussion of the obligations of Armenia before the Council of
Europe and implementation of PACE Resolutions 1609 "The Functioning of
Democratic Institutions in Armenia" and 1620 "The Implementation by Armenia
of Assembly Resolution 1609 (2008)" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, September
19-25, 2008).

The next program of "Press Club" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Wednesday, October 8, at 23.00.

On September 27 another show of "Press Club+" cycle went on air of "Yerkir
Media" TV company. It is produced by Yerevan Press Club with support of the
Embassy of Great Britain in Armenia. Talk show participants, Chairman of
Committee to Protect Freedom of Expression Ashot Melikian, Head of Local
Self-Administration Department of the RA Ministry of Territorial
Administration Ashot Giloyan, and Vice-President of the Association of
Community Financiers David Tumanian, discussed whether the local
self-administration institution is fully established in Armenia. The
audience composed of representatives of civil society of Gyumri also
participated in the discussion.

The next program of "Press Club+" cycle will be aired by "Yerkir Media" on
Saturday, October 4, at 17.40.

COMPLICATED STORY WITH A TRAGIC END

During the last days press was writing about the disappearance of the Head
of "Radiolur" news program of Public Radio of Armenia Artur Sahakian: he did
not show up at the work, did not answer the phone calls. On September 29
information appeared on the web site of RA Police about the incident with
Arthur Sahakian, which took place on September 20 and continued the next
day. Nevertheless, the official information about the incident and the
version of the journalist himself that appeared in a number of newspapers on
September 30 contradict each other. According to Artur Sahakian, he has to
hide now because his life is endangered on behalf of the encirclement of the
RA National Assembly deputy, businessman Levon Sargsian who work in
agreement with some police officials. Besides, an eyewitnesses of the
incident accused the journalist of a rape attempt.

Andranik Babayan, a friend of Artur Sahakian, fell a victim of the incident
and died in the hospital on September 29, without coming to consciousness
after the beating that took place on September 21. On the same day,
September 21, Director of "Urbat" Club, Chief Editor of "Urbat Report"
weekly, Abel Mikaelian, who was in one of Yerevan cafes together with Artur
Sahakian, was beaten. Although the act of violence was to all appearances
done by a big group of people, according to the RA Police information above,
only one person was arrested, coming to the police and confessing that he
beat Andranik Babayan and Abel Mikaelian. On October 2, press informed that
two more suspected were detained.

On October 1, 2008 "Aravot" daily published a statement of Abel Mikaelian,
who is hiding at present. Abel Mikaelian urged the media not connect his
name, the name of late Andranik Babayan, as well as "Urbat" Club and "Urbat
Report" with the incident of September 20-21.

Yerevan Press Club will follow the events around this complicated story.

COURT STARTED HEARINGS OF THE CASE OF IJEVAN MUNICIPALITY VERSUS
"INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISTS"

On September 29 hearings on the case of Ijevan municipality (Tavush region)
versus "Investigative Journalists" NGO, the founder of "Hetq" on-line,
started in the Civil Court of Yerevan. The plaintiff demands to refute the
information discrediting to honor, dignity and business reputation of Ijevan
Mayor Varuzhan Nersisian – as seen by the city administration to be present
in the article of "Hetq" correspondent in Tavush region Voskan Sargsian
"Whose Pocket Receives Money from Sand Mine?". The article was published in
"Hetq" on May 5, 2008, and also printed on May 20, 2008, in a supplement to
"Azg" daily, "Transparent Local Self-Government", produced by "Investigative
Journalists" (see YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 4-10, 2008). The plaintiff
also demanded that the respondent refund his expenses for lawyer’s legal
services in the amount of 930 thousand drams (approximately $ 3,100).

On the hearing of September 29, Ijevan municipality brought to the court
another suit as well demanding to refute also the information present in the
article "Will the Three Commissions Notice the Illegal Use of Sand?"
(published in "Hetq" on June 23, 2008, and in the supplement to "Azg"
"Transparent Local Self-Government" on July 9, 2008). The judge provided the
respondent time to prepare objections to the new suit and scheduled the next
hearing for October 13.

Meanwhile, the "Investigative Journalists", in their turn, applied to the RA
Administrative Court with a suit against Ijevan municipality. In September
the suit was taken over for proceedings. On July 2, 2008 "Investigative
Journalists" required Ijevan municipal administration to give the copies of
the session protocol of May 23, 2008 and the decision of the Council of
Elderly to allot 930 thousand drams from the city budget to cover the
expenses of lawyer’s legal services for the above-mentioned suit versus
"Investigative Journalists". In the written reply of Ijevan Mayor of July 8,
2008, it was said that required information can be provided only by the end
of the legal proceedings. "Investigative Journalists" demanded to oblige the
administration of Ijevan to give them the information and refund their
expenses for lawyer’s legal services in the amount of 114 thousand drams
(approximately $ 380).

CANDIDATE TO THE PREFECT POSITION ANNOUNCED THAT TV COMPANIES REFUSED TO
BROADCAST HIS CAMPAIGN MATERIALS

Several days before the elections of the head of administration of Kentron
community of Yerevan (that took place on September 28, 2008), one of the two
running candidates, Board Chairman of the Armenian National Movement Ararat
Zurabian announced that a number TV companies refused to broadcast his
election campaign materials. According to Ararat Zurabian, only two TV
companies agreed – "Yerkir Media" and "ALM". However, the advertisement was
aired by "Yerkir Media" only once, and "ALM" broadcasted it during one day
only.

Member of the Armenian National Movement Board Aram Manukian told YPC that,
as agreed upon with "ALM", Ararat Zurabian’s political advertisement had to
be aired during two days, yet it was not broadcasted on the second day due
to "the pressure exert upon the TV company". Regarding "Yerkir Media", Aram
Manukian said that the agreement was annulled unilaterally by the TV
company.

Director of the News and Current Affairs Programs of "Yerkir Media" Gegham
Manukian explained YPC that Ararat Zurabian’s advertisement was accepted by
the relevant department by mistake. Gegham Manukian pointed out that during
those elections "Yerkir Media" decided not to offer air for campaign
materials of the candidates to the local self-administration bodies. "We did
not offer air to the other candidate, acting head of Kentron community Gagik
Beglarian, and were not going to do it for Ararat Zurabian. That is why
after the first demonstration of the advertisement it was stopped, and
Ararat Zurabian was informed about it", stressed Gegham Manukian.

OSCE REPRESENTATIVE ON FREEDOM OF THE MEDIA: DIGITALIZATION SHOULD NOT BE
ALLOWED TO REDUCE DIVERSITY AND PLURALITY

On September 26, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos
Haraszti asked the Government of Armenia to review the addition to the RA
Law "On Television and Radio" adopted on September 10 by the National
Assembly of Armenia. As it was reported, according to this addition,
broadcast licensing competitions are suspended till July 20, 2010. The
amendment came into force on September 27 (see YPC Weekly Newsletter,
September 5-11, 2008, and September 12-18, 2008).

In his letter to RA President Serge Sargsian, Miklos Haraszti in particular
pointed out: "By cutting off any potential applicant broadcasters from
entering the market until 2010, the limited pluralism in Armenia’s
broadcasting sector will be further diminished. A moratorium on new licenses
for analogue transmission should not be the first step in the transition to
digital broadcasting. Digitalization should not be allowed to reduce
diversity and plurality or preserve a lack thereof. If the broadcasting
landscape in a country is not sufficiently pluralistic and diverse, it would
be appropriate to delay digitalization and undertake other reforms first."

In the opinion of Miklos Haraszti, moratorium on licensing meant that
Armenia will not be able to comply with the June 2008 decision of the
European Court of Human Rights that upheld the case of "A1+" TV company (see
YPC Weekly Newsletter, June 13-19, 2008). OSCE Representative also reminded
that in April 2008 the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in
its turn, also urged Armenia to "ensure an open, fair and transparent
licensing procedure" and allow "A1+" to apply for a new license.

Miklos Haraszti offered his Office’s legal analysis and recommendations to
the amendments to the broadcasting law: "I hope that, for the sake of
pluralism, the Government of Armenia will review the amendments with the
active participation of all relevant civil society and media stakeholders."

GOLD KEYS AND RUSTY LOCKS OF THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION CENTER

On September 26 at "Regine" hotel in Yerevan the ceremony of awarding the
winners of Freedom of Information Center’s annual competition took place.
The event was dedicated to the International Right to Know Day (established
in 2002) and organized with the assistance of USAID.

The most open institution in 2008 was recognized to be the Eghegnadzor
municipality.

The best official Internet-source from the point of view of freedom of
information was recognized the web-site of the RA Ministry of Education and
Science.

The most active defenders of their civil right to information were named the
citizens of Yerevan Artashes Hovhannisian and Armine Arakelian.

The public organization that is most active and efficient in using its right
to information was named to be "Hakastver".

Among the media of the country, the one most consistent in covering the
freedom of information issues and actively using the RA Law "On Freedom of
Information" was announced "Yerkir Media" TV company, and among the
journalists – Observer of "Yerkir Media" Mariam Barseghian.

By tradition all persons and organizations, listed above, received prizes of
a gold key – as a symbol of openness.

The most closed local self-government body in 2008 was recognized to be
Hrazdan municipality.

Ijevan municipality was awarded the title of "state institution that gave
incorrect or curious information" (the litigation between Ijevan
municipality and "Investigative Journalists" NGO – see above).

The municipalities of Hrazdan and Ijevan were awarded a rusty lock – a
symbol of secrecy.

"SHOGHAKAT" MOVED TO A NEW BUILDING

On September 26 opening of a new building of "Shoghakat" TV company took
place in Yerevan (Hovsepian str. 8). Before that "Shoghakat" occupied one of
the buildings in Holy See Echmiadzin residence.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

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Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, 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:

ALEXANDER ISKANDARYAN: "TURKEY MAY GIVE UP NAGORNO KARABAKH ISSUE FOR ITS OWN INTERESTS"

Today.Az
July 23 2008
Azerbaijan

Day.Az interview with famous Armenian political scientist Alexander
Iskandaryan.

– How does Armenia assess the fact of secret talks between the Armenian
and Turkish diplomats?

– There is nothing secret in the fact of contacts with the
Turkish side, in the Armenian political class it is a secret of
Polichinel. Contacts are the permanent event and are not something
new. Moreover, there are numerous international formats, in which
Armenian and Turkish diplomats meet permanently, not speaking of
the activity of permanent diplomatic mission in Istanbul-Armenian
representation in BISEC.

– Can you say how wide the Armenian-Turkish contacts are?

– Well, they can not be called too expanded, though not small
as well. Several flights are operated per week, there is a bus
communication, sufficient number of tourists direct from Armenia to
Turkey, mostly to the regions of the country, bordering on Armenia
and where there are numerous Armenian monuments. Trade is conducted
via the third countries.

– What will the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border give to Armenia?

– It will give much. Of its four neighbors Armenian borders are closed
with two of them, thus, the opening of the border with one of them is
important. Even so more, the point is not the arithmetics. Turkey is
Armenia’s western neighbor and the way to Europe lies via it, which
is more direct and cheaper than the currently operating Georgian-Black
sea route. Armenia’s main trade balance is with European countries.

– Is Armenia ready to stop the activity, aimed at recognition of the
"genocide of Armenians" and return of the occupied lands of Azerbaijan
in exchange for the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border?

– As for the first point, I am afraid the point is not
Armenia. Activity on recognition of the "genocide" is mainly conducted
by the lobby of local Armenian organizations in the country of
residence. These are the political parties of Armenia abroad and
public organizations and some influential individuals abroad and so
on. They are often supported by non-Armenian organizations or just
people, by some reasons sympathazing Armenians or having negative
attitude to Turkey.

Certainly, Armenia does not stay aside of all these processes but it
is unable to stop it no matter how strong its wish is. "Genocide"
is an important part of the self-conscience of Armenians abroad,
whose main members are the direct descendants of those who survived
"genocide", it is a part of their family history, and often a basis
of their identity.

On the whole, it should be reminded that the fight for recognition
of the "genocide" existed when there was no Armenian state at all
(and was sometimes even stronger than now).

As for the second part of the question, I would say "no". The
relations with Turkey and with Azerbaijan are different things. Though,
interconnected, but different. The degree of tensions is different,
parameters are different, circumstances are difference and priority
of the issue for Turkey and Azerbaijan is different. Moreover, "the
value of the issue" has been exagerrated. No one will give up security
of Karabakh for opening of borders as these are different things.

I do not belittle Turkey’s issue for Armenia, but it is clear that
Turkey would have opened borders ten years ago for territories,
if Armenia proposed it.

– Do you think Turkey may exchange Nagorno Karabakh issue for its
own interests?

– Sure. Moreover, I think it will really occur, if no cardinal changes
occur. The point is when it will occur. Azerbaijani lobby plays its
role in Turkey, as well as internal factor, working for prolongation
of the current state. But the dynamics of processes is in favor of
positive changes.

– In this case: can the improvement of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations
be expected following a thaw in Armenian-Turkish relations?

– I am afraid it is unreal to expect improvement of
Armenian-Azerbaijani relations in the political perspective. It does
not mean that it can not be expected in the historical perspective. I
can not know what will happen in fifty or hundred years. But
nothing on the political horizon shows prospect of such betterment
and relations with the third countries (in this case, with Turkey)
can hardly reverse this situation.

A MAN ACCUSED IN HRANT DINK’S MURDER SAYS JENNIFER LOPEZ CALLED HIM BEFORE THE CRIME

Azeri Press Agency
July 7 2008
Azerbaijan

Istanbul-APA. Trial on the murder of Armenian-published Agos
newspaper’s editor Hrant Dink was continued in Istanbul on Monday. APA
quotes the Turkish news agencies as saying that Ogun Samast and Erhan
Tuncel accused in the murder gave funny testimony in the court.

Other charged Yasin Hayal’s lawyer Fuad Turgut asked questions to
Samast and Tuncel at the process held publicly for the first time. He
reminded Tuncel about his frequently visits to his girlfriend in
Eskishehir and asked she was Israeli or not. Tuncel was angry and said:
"I don’t answer this question because it is against our traditions. Do
I ask you about your wife?" Then he said that his girlfriend was a
daughter of Israeli President. Lawyer Turgut said Samast received
two phone calls in front of the Agos newspaper’s office and one
of the calls was from the former Zaman reporter and present Agos
editor-in-chief Etienne Mahchupian. At this time Samast replied:
"No, Jennifer Lopez called me that time". Hayal leaving the court
room under the police convoy cried: "Long live Great Union Party!"