Author: Karagyozian Lena

YAPONCHIK BARRED FROM AZERBAIJAN
Ervin Mirza
Yeni Musavat, Baku
26 Sep 06
Three criminal bosses who wanted to meet the renowned boss were
detained
As the media reported earlier, the renowned Russian criminal boss,
Vyacheslav Ivankov, nicknamed Yaponchik, visited Armenia. Russian
Internet sites said that he would visit Azerbaijan after Armenia. He
reportedly planned to hold several meetings here and pay tribute to
the grave of [Azerbaijani criminal boss] Hikmat in Kurkandi village of
Sabirabad District [central Azerbaijan]. Hikmat was killed in Moscow.
The sources said that Yaponchik earlier wanted to take part in Hikmat’s
funeral, but Azerbaijani law-enforcement bodies prevented it.
A reliable source told us yesterday [25 September] that Ivankov was
prevented from visiting Azerbaijan from Armenia through Georgia. The
source said that even the Azerbaijani criminal bosses who were ready
to meet him were detained. APA news agency indirectly confirmed the
information we have obtained. It quoted the press service of the
Interior Ministry as saying that the ministry’s department to fight
organized crime rounded up a criminal group. The report said that
the group included a resident of Ganca, Samil Mehdiyev, as well as
residents of Baku – Yunus Nazarov, who is known as a criminal boss
in the underworld and Mubariz Hacizada, who also has authority in
the criminal world. All the three were arrested. A total of 10.124
grams of opium was found on Nazarov, 5 grams of heroin on Hacizada
and 10.045 grams of opium on Mehdiyev.
[Passage omitted: all three have reputation in criminal world]
According to the information we obtained yesterday, Ivankov regretted
being unable to visit Azerbaijan and flew from Tbilisi to Moscow.
Another report said that a criminal boss known as Mamed from Masalli
[District in southern Azerbaijan], who is currently living in Moscow
and is sometimes touted as Hikmat’s successor, is also involved in
the issue and is trying to have the arrested criminal bosses released.

BAKU LOST MORAL RIGHT TO CUSTODY OF KARABAKH PEOPLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
26.09.2006 14:10 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ “We follow the Kosovo self-determination process
very closely,” Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated at the 61st session
of the UN GA, reports the Press Office of the MFA of Armenia.
“We ourselves strongly support the process of self-determination for
the population of Nagorno Karabakh. Yet, we do not draw parallels
between these two or any other conflicts. We believe that conflicts
are all different and each must be decided on its own merits. While
we do not look at the outcome of Kosovo as a precedent, on the other
hand, a Kosovo decision cannot and should not result in the creation
of obstacles to self-determination for others in order to pre-empt
the accusation of precedence. Such a reverse reaction – to prevent
or pre-empt others from achieving well-earned self-determination –
is unacceptable,” the Minister said. In his words, efforts to do just
that – by elevating territorial integrity above all other principles –
are already underway, especially in the chamber, where the session took
place. “But this contradicts the lessons of history. There is a reason
that the Helsinki Final Act enshrines self-determination as an equal
principle. In international relations, just as in human relations,
there are no absolute rights. There are also responsibilities. A state
must earn the right to lead and govern. States have the responsibility
to protect their citizens. A people choose the government, which
represents them,” Oskanian said.
“The people of Nagorno Karabakh chose long ago not to be represented
by the government of Azerbaijan. They were the victims of state
violence, they defended themselves, and succeeded against great odds,
only to hear the state cry foul and claim sovereignty and territorial
integrity. But the government of Azerbaijan has lost the moral right
to even suggest providing for their security and their future, let
alone to talk of custody of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. Azerbaijan
did not behave responsibly or morally with the people of Nagorno
Karabakh, who it considered to be its own citizens. They sanctioned
massacres in urban areas, far from Nagorno Karabakh; they bombed and
displaced more than 300,000 Armenians; they unleashed the military;
and after they lost the war and accepted a cease-fire, they proceeded
to destroy all traces of Armenians on their territories.
In the most cynical expression of such irresponsibility, this last
December, a decade after the fighting had stopped, they completed the
final destruction and removal of thousands of massive hand-sculpted
cross-stones – medieval Armenian tombstones elaborately carved
and decorated. Such destruction, in an area with no Armenians,
at a distance from Nagorno Karabakh and any conflict areas, is a
callous demonstration that Azerbaijan’s attitude toward tolerance,
human values, cultural treasures, cooperation or even peace, has not
changed,” V. Oskanian underscored.

ANTI-CRIMINALS GIVE NAMES
A1+
[06:56 pm] 25 September, 2006
Today, in answer to the announcement of the Prime Minister (“If they
know everything, why don’t they give names?”), the representatives
of the parties which are members of the anti-criminal movement made
public the first names of criminal officials.
Leader of the party “New Times” Aram Karapetyan asked a question
about recent events, namely about the murder of Shahen Hovasapyan and
the person who has been arrested in connection with the case: Armen
Virabyan, a.k.a. Schwarz. “Isn’t Armen Virabyan the same Schwarz
who left for Moscow several years ago in order to terrorize Serge
Jilavyan? Didn’t the preliminary investigation find out that he is
the same person. I’m asking the RA Prime Minister and the Defense
Minister: how did a person like this manage to remain in his post
as such a high official? Isn’t this an obvious case of the close
interconnection of the authorities and the criminals?”
The next name made public by the anti-criminal movement was Hovik
Abrahamyan’s. Head of “Fatherland and honor” Garnik Margaryan
enumerated the property of the Minister of Territorial Administration:
“more than 50 establishments in Ararat region, more than 10 plants,
more than five car factories, more than 10 wine factories. Alongside
with this, Hovik Abrahamyan is stockholder of several privatized
enterprises like “Ararat-Cement”, and has privatized areas in Sevan
and Hanqavan. How does a person who was a car washerman in 1988 buy
all this? If he is fair, let them punish us; if he is not, let him
answer for his deeds”.
Member of the political council of the Republican party Souren
Abrahamyan brought another example, “If the Prime Minister wants names,
is there anything better than his own name? Let him open up the list
of the members of government and have a good look at it”.
Manouk Gasparyan announced that he can give a hundred names, but
his does not want to risk his life, “I name only two people – Robert
Kocharyan and Serge Sargsyan.
If something happens to me, I want you to know that they have a finger
in it”.By the way, Manouk Gasparyan informed that in connection with
the 15th anniversary of Independence four officers got the rank of
General “and all the four of them are from Karabakh. What is this if
not criminal activity?” Manouk Gasparyan said and added that there
is serious discontent in the army in this respect.
It is noteworthy that representatives of the Orinats Yerkir party
Hovhannes Margaryan suggested that the opposition proclaim their
property so that there are no rumors about it. The offer was not
much welcomed.

Controversial EP Report on Turkey Faces Voting Next Week
By Cihan News Agency
Zaman, Turkey
Sept 22 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
zaman.com
The controversial report on Turkey prepared by Dutch rapporteur Camiel
Eurlings will be discussed and voted on in the European Parliament
(EP) General Assembly next week.
The draft report on Turkey’s progress towards accession to the EU and
the reforms is to be discussed in the European parliament on Tuesday.
The provision, making the recognition of so-called Armenian, Pontus
Greek and Syriac genocides a precondition for Turkey’s EU membership,
is expected to be removed from the draft with motions. Certain
amendments are also expected to be made on the Cyprus issue in favor
of Turkey, a diplomatic source said.
The report will be discussed on Tuesday afternoon and the European
Commissioner for Enlargement Olli Rehn will attend the meeting. The
voting of the report is to take place on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, the EP Foreign Affairs Committee approved Camiel
Eurlings’ report on Turkey. The report called on Turkey to recognize
the alleged killing of Armenians during WWI as genocide and to open
its ports to Greek Cypriot traffic.
The Turkish foreign ministry rejected the report, saying that it
lacked common sense and smacked of political bias.
The draft report insists that there are persistent shortcomings in
areas such as freedom of expression, religious, minority and women’s
rights in Turkey.

Yuri Merzlyakov: OSCE MG Proposal Acceptable for Armenia on Whole
PanARMENIAN.Net
21.09.2006 14:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Azeri side responded to the OSCE MG Co-chairs’
proposals in written form, OSCE MG Russian Co-chair Yuri Merzlyakov
said. In his words, Azeri FM Elmar Mammadyarov handed the reply at
the London meeting September 13. “However, Mr. Mammadyarov warned
that this not a final reply, the document can be presented to the
other side after the co-chairs rework at it, and it is agreed upon
with the Azerbaijani side,” the Russian diplomat said.
According to him, the Armenian side made an oral statement that the
text is acceptable but for some resolution amendments.
Yuri Merzlyakov remarked that the meeting of the Armenian and Azeri
FMs will not take place within the framework of the 61st session
of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. They will hold separate
meetings with the mediators. The Russian diplomat said that September
12 in Paris the Armenian Minister warned he will refuse to meet with
Mammadyarov in case the issue of ‘frozen conflicts’ is included in
the session agenda. “On the day of meeting with Mammadyarov it was
announced that GUAM’s proposal was not passed in the General Assembly
and we agreed on the ministerial meeting in New York. But then the
proposal was passed with one odd vote and Oskanian said he will not
meet with Mammadyarov but will hold consultations with the Co-chairs,”
Merzlyakov said, reported APA.

Ahmadinejad proclaims respect for pope but Iran has strange anti-Catholic coalition
by Dariush Mirzai
AsiaNews.it, Italy
21 September, 2006
IRAN – VATICAN
Foreigners, Armenians and minorities have taken to the streets, but
the “students” have not. Tomorrow, however, the Islamic Propagation
Office has called a rally in Teheran to “show anger and hatred”.
Teheran (AsiaNews) – Despite Ahmadinejad’s proclamations of “respect”
for Benedict XVI, the anti-pope controversy is not yet over in the
Islamic republic of Iran. However, there is no popular uprising and
the regime so far has not used the fervent ranks of “bassij”, the
“students”, as it did in the controversy about the Muhammad cartoons
in February. But tomorrow, Friday, a day of prayer, the
Islamic Propagation Office has invited Iranian Muslims to a
demonstration in Teheran, to “show the anger and hatred” of the
faithful against the “anti-Islamic” statements of the pope.
The tenors of the regime, the Supreme Guide Khamenei and the powerful
and very rich Hashemi Rafsanjani, stoked controversy against the pope,
accusing him of collusion with Zionist and US circles (Khamenei)
or of “irrationality” (Rafsanjani).
Yesterday’s demonstrations were quite strange: authorised if
not organised by the authorities, they gathered “strangers” and
“minorities”. A group of Armenians and other demonstrators gathered
outside Hosseinieh Ershad mosque to protest against the pope’s
“anti-Islamic” attitude. In Iran, the Armenians constitute quite
an important minority that enjoys historic status of “privileged”
inferiority. What’s more, they are Orthodox, but there is also an
Armenian Catholic community – a Salesian priest of Armenian rite
was recently ordained in Teheran. This demonstration is one of those
typical signs of “peace” and obedience that allow Iranian minorities
to survive.
Another particular demonstration was that held by foreign Islamic
“seminarians” of Qom, including a group of Americans who shouted,
apart from the classic “Down with America” and “Down with Israel”,
a bizarre “Down with the pope”. Gathered outside Qom’s World Center
for Islamic Sciences, they approved a manifesto addressed to “Mr Pope”
and accused Christianity of having caused the last two world wars
and thus of being without reason and without any right to criticize
the use of violence in the name of religion.
Photos of the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah, Nasrallah, have been
taken down from the streets of Teheran and right now, the faces of
“martyrs” (shahid) from the Iraq war are exposed.
On Friday at 7am, a traditional military parade will take place
near the Mausoleum of Khomeini. In this atmosphere, the next attack
of propaganda should not target religious minorities but rather
“arrogant” states opposed to Iran’s nuclear policy. This was announced
by Ahmadinejad’s address in New York yesterday.

INDEPENDENCE – GREATEST DREAM AND GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY
PanARMENIAN.Net
20.09.2006 13:44 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ 15 years of Armenia’s independence were hard
and full of losses but it was also the time of great victories and
achievements, self-affirmation and renaissance of national values,
says the congratulatory address of Armenian National Assembly Speaker
Tigran Torosian on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of Armenia’s
independence. “Thanks to the unlimited strength of our people we
could counteract the ordeals. Today we have two Armenian states
and our borders are well secured. Armenia has an efficient army
and state system,” the message says. Tigran Torosian underscored
that the Armenian people still face challenges and problems. “These
are the international recognition of the NKR, creation of proper
living conditions for the people, who experienced the hardships of
independence formation, and worthy representation of a strong state
within the international community. Independence is a great dream and
great responsibility at the same time. I congratulate the Armenian
people with the 15th anniversary of independence and wish happiness,
prosperity and every success,” the RA Parliament Speaker said,
reported the RA NA press office.

GEORGIAN OFFICIALS HAIL RUSSIA PLAN FOR EARLY BASE PULLOUT
RIA Novosti
21:49 | 19/ 09/ 2006
TBILISI, September 19 (RIA Novosti) – Georgia’s Defense Ministry
voiced its approval Tuesday for Russia’s decision to complete an
ahead-of-schedule withdrawal of its two Soviet-era military bases in
the Caucasus country, as a train carrying the last batch of hardware
from one of the bases left Georgia.
Under an agreement signed by Russia and Georgia on March 31, Russian
troops and military hardware are to leave the bases in the southern
city of Akhalkalaki and the western city of Batumi by 2008.
General Andrei Popov, Russia’s chief military commander in the South
Caucasus, said a total of 727 units of hardware and 2626.6 metric
tons of arms, ammunition, and general equipment had left Georgia for
bases in Russia and Armenia since the beginning of this year.
“The 2006 plan for the withdrawal of Russian bases from Georgia can
be considered 100% implemented,” Popov said.

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 15, 2006 Friday 09:03 AM EST
Russian prosecutors looking for true causes of ethnic conflicts
The Russian Prosecutor General’s Office will generalize the
information about ethnic conflicts to see their true causes, Deputy
Prosecutor General Alexander Buksman told reporters, answering their
questions about the incident in the town of Volsky, Saratov region.
“At present, the Prosecutor General’s Office is generalizing the
information about such events, in order to find out the true causes
that lead to such situations,” Buksman said.
The incident occurred in a Volsky cafe in the evening on September
10. Three local residents came up to a table where Armenian
construction workers were taking a meal. A row flared up which
escalated into a knife fight. The injured were taken to hospital,
where one of them, a local resident, died. The other brawlers
escaped.
Regional law-enforcement bodies see no connection between the
incident and ethnic hate, regional police spokesman Alexei Yegorov
told Itar-Tass on Friday.
“We see no connection between the incident and ethnic hate. Local
residents have always had friendly relations with representatives of
other nationalities. It was a domestic incident,” he underlined.
A criminal case was opened over the fatal fight. The participants in
the brawl have been put on the wanted list. A more precise evaluation
of what has happened will be made after they have been caught,
investigators said.
In late August, two persons were killed and another four were
seriously injured in a mass fight in the Karelian town of Kondopoga.
Prosecutors opened criminal proceedings over the murder of two or
more persons and hooliganism committed by a group of persons.
Six people were detained on suspicion of involvement and one was put
on the wanted list.
Another criminal case was opened over the mass fight near the Chaika
restaurant. On Thursday, Karelian prosecutors brought charges against
Sergei Mozgalyov, 33, the main instigator of the restaurant fight. He
was charged under several counts, including bodily harm with the use
of weapons, and hooliganism-motivated violence.

Azeri Press Agency
Zhelyu Zhelev: Kosovo is the Balkans’ Nagorno Garabagh
[ 16 Sen. 2006 15:50 ]
`Kosovo is the Balkans’ Nagorno Garabagh,’ former
Bulgarian President & Balkan Political Club president
Zhelyu Zhelev said in his visit in Yerevan, APA
reports.
He said the separation of Kosovo from Serbia might
cause precedent.
`There are about one million Albans on Albania-Greece
border and two million Hungarians in Rumania. Kosovo’s
independence might cause other nations to determine
their fortune and gain independence too,’ he said.
/APA/