Author: Hunanian Jack

Great Britain is Prepared to Assist OSCE Minsk Group in Nagorno-Karabakh Situation
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
Great Britain is prepared to assist the OSCE Minsk Group with regards
to the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the Special Envoy of Great Britain for
South Caucasus, Bryan Fall, stated on 8 November in Yerevan during
the meeting with the Armenian Defense Minister, Serj Sarkisyan,
Trend reports with reference to News-Armenia.
“Fall informed the Armenian Minister that Great Britain was
prepared to assist the OSCE Minsk Group to peacefully resolve the
Armenian-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict,” the Press Secretary
of the Armenian Defense Minister, Colonel Seyran Shakhsuvaryan,
informed News-Armenia quoting Fall.
According to him, the negotiators discussed the meeting of the
Azerbaijani and Armenian Defense Ministers held on 20 October in the
Ijevan-Gazakh section of the Azerbaijani-Armenian Defense Ministers
pointing out the benefits of the mutual meetings between both parties
in maintaining the ceasefire regime.
During the meeting, Fall also remarked upon the fact that the
conference “South Caucasus: perception and challenges” organized by
the British Center “Wilson Park” for the first time in this region,
is held in Armenia.
The participants of the 3-day conference which began on 7 November
discussed the problems and possibilities of South Caucasus, as well
as the tasks of the government and entrepreneurs in developing the
economy and stimulating the investments.

RUSSIAN, AZERBAIJANI PRESIDENTS TO MEET FOR FOURTH TIME THIS YEAR
By Judith Ingram, Associated Press Writer
Associated Press Worldstream
November 9, 2006 Thursday 2:05 PM GMT
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev
on Thursday hailed their countries’ burgeoning economic ties, amid
signs of concern from Moscow about its southern neighbor’s improving
relations with the West.
“Our bilateral relationship has reached the highest level since we
got independence,” Aliev said at the start of the two leaders’ fourth
meeting this year. “It is necessary to continue cooperation … It
will help not only to strengthen ties between Russia and Azerbaijan,
but also stabilize the situation in the region as a whole.”
Azerbaijan, a former Soviet republic, is the starting-point for a
newly-completed U.S.-backed pipeline that transports Caspian oil to
Western markets bypassing Russia. It also sent troops to serve in
the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq.
Aliev arrived in Moscow after a trip to Brussels, where he and NATO
leaders discussed energy security. Earlier this year, he got a warm
White House welcome from U.S. President George W. Bush.
Russia’s Kommersant daily said Moscow was worried that Azerbaijan would
be making more military purchases in NATO countries as it builds up
its armed forces and ultimately building a “strategic relationship”
with the Western alliance and even allowing NATO and the United States
to use its military bases.
Kommersant, citing unnamed sources close to the Kremlin, said Putin
would offer Aliev a deeper strategic relationship with Russia by
allowing it to purchase cheaper Russian weapons something that had
been blocked earlier by Moscow’s desire to keep Azerbaijan from
strengthening its military at the expense of Russia’s main ally in
the Caucasus, Armenia.
“Evidently the creation of a united front … against Georgia is more
important for Russia: The main topic of negotiations is supposed to
be Azerbaijan’s participation in an energy blockade against Georgia
in winter 2006-2007,” Kommersant wrote.
Russia’s Gazprom natural gas monopoly said last week that it was
seeking to double the price Georgia pays for gas; Georgia accused
Moscow of “political blackmail” and said it would look for alternate
suppliers, including Azerbaijan.
Kommersant said Putin would also offer investments in Azerbaijan by
the Russian aluminum giant OAO Rusal and RAO Unified Energy Systems.
Putin said that Russian-Azerbaijani trade had grown by half already
this year over the same period in 2005, and he predicted it would
double within a year or two.
“We have very extensive bilateral relationships (with Azerbaijan)
in the political field, international affairs and the economy,”
Putin said.
Putin and Aliev were expected to discuss developments in the
Caucasus Mountains region, including the prolonged dispute over
Nagorno-Karabakh, the Kremlin said ahead of the meeting.
The disputed territory in Azerbaijan has been under the control of
Armenian and ethnic Armenian Karabakh forces since a 1994 cease-fire
ended a six-year separatist war that killed about 30,000 people and
drove about 1 million from their homes. The region’s final status
has not been worked out, and years of talks under the auspices of
international mediators have brought few visible results.

November 9, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: <; Prelate Welcomes New Consul General Of Armenia Armen Liloyan On Thursday, November 9, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, welcomed the newly appointed Consul General of Armenia in Los Angeles Armen Liloyan to the temporary Prelacy offices in Encino. This was one of the first official visits of the Consul General, who was appointed in late October, to the Prelacy to meet with the Prelate and Executive Council representatives. Accompanying the Consul General was Consul Haroutioun Khojoyan. Also in attendance were Very Rev. Fr. Barthev Gulumian, Archpriest Fr. Vicken Vassilian, Rev. Razmig Khatchadourian, Executive Council Chairman Dr. Garo Agopian and Treasurer Mr. Vahan Bezdikian, as well as Ferrahian High School principal Mr. John Kossakian. During the meeting, the Prelate briefed the Consul General on the history of our Prelacy, churches, and schools, the publications of the Prelacy (textbooks and religious publications), and the endeavors of the Christian Education Department. He also emphasized the collaboration that exists between the Prelacy and Armenian diplomats, both in Los Angeles and in Washington D.C., at the same time renewing his support to the Consulate and their endeavors. The Prelate then once again offered his best wishes to the Consul General on the 15th anniversary of the independence of Armenia, noting that he was fortunate to be in Armenia at the time to participate in the celebrations, and also in Washington D.C. at the celebration hosted by the Ambassador. The Consul General subsequently reported to the Prelate the current and future ventures of the Consulate. The meeting concluded with the Prelate presenting the Consul General with a memento, and wishing him success in his mission.

DIVISIONS OF ARMENIAN ARMED FORCES BROKE CEASEFIRE REGIME AGAIN
Author: Sh.Jaliloglu
TREND< Azerbaijan Nov 8 2006 On November 7, the divisions of the Armenian Armed Forces shot the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces with machine-guns the whole day. The enemy was made silent with response shots, Trend Regional Correspondent reports. It should be mentioned that the explosions are heard often in the Azerbaijani territories occupied by Armenians, but the local inhabitants do not know the reasons of the explosions.

ARMENIA ACCEPTS POLAND’S MEDIATION PROPOSAL
Mediamax News Agency, Armenia
Nov 7 2006
Yerevan, 7 November: Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said in
Yerevan today that Armenia had positively responded to a proposal from
the Polish Foreign Ministry which said that it was ready to represent
Armenia’s interests in Turkey and Turkey’s interests in Armenia.
Answering a question from Mediamax in Yerevan today, Oskanyan said
that the Polish Foreign Ministry had put forward the proposal about
two months earlier. He also said that Turkey had not yet responded
to the Polish Foreign Ministry’s proposal.
The Armenian foreign minister recalled that Armenia is the only member
country of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization (BSECO)
which has its representative office in Istanbul.
“We did it specially in order to have an Armenian diplomat in Turkey
through whom we could maintain contact,” Oskanyan noted.

THE DAYS OF NKR TO BE HELD IN RA
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 8 2006
The days of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic’s culture will be held in
RA in November.
The opening ceremony of the Days of the NKR culture in Armenia will
be held November 13 at the Sundukian National Academic Theatre in
Yerevan. The measures will also take place in the towns of Abovian,
Artashat and Echmiadzin. The public will enjoy Artsakh’s best state
ensembles and orchestras. The Karabakh painters’ works will also be
exhibited within the frames of the Days of the NKR culture in RA.

YURI MERZLYAKOV: CO-CHAIRS HAVE NO AGREEMENT ON NAGORNO GARABAGH REFERENDUM
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 7 2006
“We have no agreement on Nagorno Garabagh referendum, we will have
discussions on the eve of the Azerbaijani and Armenian ministers’
meeting on November 14 in Brussels and determine our position on the
referendum,” OSCE Minsk Group co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov told the APA.
The referendum on Constitution will be held in Nagorno Garabagh on
December 10. There is a special paragraph in the constitution to be
accepted by referendum on separatist Nagorno Garabagh regime.
Foreign Ministry Press and Information Policy Department Tahir
Tagizadeh told the APA world community and OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
should estimate Nagorno Garabagh puppet regime unambiguously.
“For Azerbaijan everything is clear – these actions are realized
by illegal regime, contradicts the Azerbaijani Constitution
and international legislative norms and can not influence peace
negotiations as to its features,” he said. The diplomat considers
that the steps made by illegitimate regime can not achieve legal
results.

7 November 2006
Justice Initiative Activities Roundup: September to October 2006
+1 212-548-0157
[email protected]
www.justic einitiative.org
Justice Initiative Intervenes in Armenian FOI Suit
On Oct. 16, the Justice Initiative filed written comments with the European
Court of Human Rights in a freedom of information case against Armenia. The
case, Geraguyn Khorhurd Patgamavorakan Akumb v. Armenia, involves the
alleged failure of an Armenian election authority to provide information on
its decision making processes, as well as data pertaining to the campaign
contributions and expenses of certain political parties. The Justice
Initiative was granted leave by the Court to intervene as a third party in
the case and submit comments on the general principles involved. The brief
argues that the existence of a right to information is well established in
European and international law, and urges the Court to find that Article 10
of the European Convention on Human Rights establishes a right of access to
information held by public authorities. The brief also elaborates on the
close links between access to information, free expression and political
participation.
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___________________
The Open Society Justice Initiative, an operational program of the Open
Society Institute, pursues law reform activities grounded in the protection
of human rights, and contributes to the development of legal capacity for
open societies worldwide. The Justice Initiative combines litigation, legal
advocacy, technical assistance, and the dissemination of knowledge to secure
advances in the following priority areas: national criminal justice,
international justice, freedom of information and expression, and equality
and citizenship. Its offices are in Abuja, Budapest, and New York.

November 7, 2006
PRESS RELEASE
Western Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America
H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
Tel: (818) 248-7737
Fax: (818) 248-7745
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: <; ARMENIAN , COPTIC, AND SYRIAC SUNDAY SCHOOL GATHERING On Saturday, October 28, 2006, a one-day gathering of Oriental Orthodox Churches Sunday Schools took place at Archangel Michael Coptic Orthodox Church from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The gathering was held under the auspices of the Council of Oriental Orthodox Bishops, H.E. Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian, Prelate, H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Primate, H.G. Bishop Serapion of the Coptic Orthodox Church, and H.E. Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Following registration, students from each church participated in the Morning Prayer services in their respective language. The Prelates and their representatives then welcomed the students and teachers, conveyed their encouragement and spiritual messages, and invited all the participants to accept Jesus into their hearts, and to be guided by His love. After the group picture and lunch, close to 300 students divided into 20 groups, to take part in an educational session on episodes and parables from the Bible, after which each group presented their specific topic to the others. Father Athanasius Ragheb, Pastor of Archangel Michael Church then presented the students with crosses. The gathering concluded with remarks by the organizing committee, in which they commended the Sunday School directors, teachers, and students, and thanked them for their participation.

TURKEY MAY RELAX LIMITS TO FREE SPEECH
By Dan Bilefsky / International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune, France
Nov 6 2006
ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has signaled that he is
prepared to amend a law limiting free speech, in an apparent 11th-hour
attempt to prevent a crisis with the European Union.
The surprise move Sunday by Erdogan came just three days before
the European Commission is expected to publish a report criticizing
Turkey for sluggishness on reforms necessary if it wants to join the
25-member bloc.
“The move looks desperate,” said Ilker Domac, a Turkish economist.
“It shows how badly things are going with Turkey’s EU membership
prospects.”
Talks with the EU have reached an impasse that could result in the
suspension of the country’s EU membership talks, some Turks fear.
Such a move would hobble a key European and American ally in an
unstable region and would risk slowing the pace of its political and
economic reforms.
The commission, the EU executive branch, has been particularly
concerned by Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which makes
insulting Turkishness a crime. The law attracted global criticism
earlier this year when the Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, who was awarded
the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature, was put on trial for telling a
Swiss newspaper that more than a million Armenians were massacred by
Ottoman Turks during World War I. The case was later dismissed.
In an apparent attempt to gain favor with the European Union before
the commission’s report is released Wednesday, Erdogan signaled that
his party, Justice and Development, might be willing to amend the law.
“We are studying several options for how we can handle Article 301 in
harmony with the spirit of the reforms,” he said without elaborating.
Turkish analysts said this would likely entail narrowing the legal
definition of what constitutes an insult to Turkishness and amending
the law to make it compatible with the European Court of Human Rights.
Erdogan, who faces strong pressure from nationalists not to change
the law, all but ruled out doing so last week. But Turkish officials
said he had tempered his resistance after furious lobbying by human
rights groups, trade unions and the business community, which fear
that a break in EU membership talks would undermine Turkey’s stability.
EU officials cautiously welcomed the move, but warned that Turkey’s
membership bid still faced enormous obstacles, in particular a
simmering dispute over Cyprus that shows little sign of resolution.
“This is a positive signal, but there are other big hurdles that still
need to be overcome,” said Joost Lagendijk, the chairman of the Turkey
delegation in the European Parliament and a member of the Green group.
Turkey has said it will not open its ports to ships from Cyprus,
an EU member, until the European Union lifts trade restrictions
against Turkish Cypriots in northern Cyprus, which is recognized
internationally by Ankara alone. The Cyprus impasse has proved so
intractable that last week Finland, which holds the Union’s rotating
presidency, canceled talks because the parties refused to be in the
same room.