Author: Khoyetsian Rose

OSCE MISSION HELD RECURRING MONITORING OF THE CONTACT LINE

ArmRadio.am
06.06.2006 14:40

According to a preliminary agreement with Nagorno-Karabakh authorities,
on June 6 the OSCE Mission carried out the recurrent monitoring of
the contact line of Armed Forces of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan
to the east from Seysulan settlement in Martakert region.

NKR Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that from the positions of
NKR Defense Army the monitoring was carried out by Field Assistants of
the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office Peter Kee
(Great Britain) and Irzhi Aberle (Czech Republic). The monitoring was
held according to the preset schedule, no breaches of the cease-fire
regime were registered. From the Karabakh side the observation mission
was accompanied by representatives of Ministries of Foreign Affairs
and Defense.

CHESS TEAM OF ARMENIA ACHIEVES THE OLYMPIC GOLD

ArmRadio.am
05.06.2006 10:24

Men’s chess team of Armenia achieved gold medals at the 37th World
Olympic Games in Turin. In the last decisive game Armenians played
a draw with the Hungariam team. This was just enough to achieve the
desirable Olympic gold. Our team showed a wonderful result in Turin. It
was the only one to have no defeats in the tournament, registering 10
victories and 3 draws. Our rival in the last round was the Hungarian
team, which was occupying the 5th place with 30.5 points. The last
game was entrusted to Levon Aronyan, Vladimir Hakobyan, Karen Asryan
and Gabriel Sargsyan, who fully realized the trust, registering the
recurrent chess achievement of Armenia.

We congratulate al the chess players and all our compatriots on the
occasion of this great victory.

A DISAPPOINTING FINISH FOR INDIA

The Statesman, India
June 5 2006

Press Trust of India

TURIN (Italy), June 4: India had a disappointing finish at the 37th
Chess Olympiad here with the women’s team bagging the 12th spot and
the men managing to get the 30th place after the concluding round of
the meet.

Indian men yet again failed to make the most of the situation and
managed a minimal 2.5-1.5 victory over Italy B in the 13th and
final round.

Armenia attested their supremacy in the event with a quick draw on
all four boards against Hungary and won the gold medal with a huge
score of 36 points out of a possible 52. The silver medal went to
China who came with yet another fine performance in the final round
game to beat the Netherlands by a 2.5-1.5 margin. The Chinese men
finished with 34 points.

In an amazing turn of events, pre-Olympiad favourite and top seed
Russia were thrown out of medal contention after they lost their
final round game against Israel by a 1-3 margin. It paved the way
for the United States men who beat Norway 3.5-0.5 to join Israel in
the third spot on 33 points, and after the tie-break was resolved the
USA got the bronze. Behind Israel, Hungary finished fifth overall on
32.5 points while Russia ended in sixth place. Indian men who had
been given the second billing here behind Russia finished 30th on
29.5 points after the final list was announced.

In women’s section, the Ukraine won the gold after taking a draw with
Armenian eves. The Ukraine ended with 29.5 points out of a possible
39 and won the gold with a 1.5 point lead over Russia, who defeated
Indian eves in the final round 2-1. Indian eves, seeded ninth, had a
better finish than their male counterparts and tallied 23 points to
finish in 12th place. The Chinese women, the defending champions,
had to be content with the bronze this time. In the final round,
China drew with Belarus and ended on 27.5 points overall.

For Indian men, the final round also did not bring any good news as
national champion Surya Shekhar Ganguly was outdone on the third board
by unknown Sabino Brunello of the Italy B team. In fact, the Indian
opposition did not have a single International Master against four
Indian GMs and it was again a tragedy of errors that failed to propel
the team to a better finish. Viswanathan Anand was expectedly rested
and Krishnan Sasikiran won his game against Niccolo Ronchetti after
former world junior champion P Harikrishna gave the team an early lead
defeating Daniele Vocaturo. However, Ganguly’s loss combined with a
draw by Sandipan Chanda against Denis Rombaldoni on the fourth board
could yield only a minimal victory.

Meanwhile, Mr Bharat Singh Chauhan, treasurer of the All India Chess
Federation, was unanimously elected as president of Fide’s Asian Zone
3.2 here. Zone 3.2 comprises of India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan
and Sri Lanka.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Unrecognized Republics Have Right to
Self-Determination, Russian MFA Says

02.06.2006 18:08 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Russian press described the RF MFA’s statement as a
`diplomatic sensation’ and `recognition of separatist regimes.’
Russian Foreign Ministry’s Spokesman Mikhail Kamynin announced that
the unrecognized republics in the post soviet space have the right to
self-determination. `We treat the principle of territorial integrity
with respect. But as regards Georgia, this integrity is rather a
possible condition than political and legal reality. The initial
South Ossetian position bases on another principle recognized by the
international community – the right to self-determination,’ he stated.

Kommesant daily thinks that with this statement Moscow reacted to the
West’s demands to withdraw Russian troops from Moldavia and
Georgia. This means that the concept of Moscow’s foreign policy
towards the post soviet space has radically changed. In order to
maintains its influence in the pro-western segments of the CIS Russia
is ready to recognize the separatist regimes in Transdnistria,
Abkhazia and South Ossetia,’ the newspaper writes.

`Separatists of all kinds have the right to independence,’ the
Nezavisimaya Gazeta writes. It compared the situation in the
Transcaucasus with the situation in Balkans and recollects the recent
referendum in Montenegro and Kosovo’s aspirations for independence.
Kamynin’s statement gained a due impression. The unrecognized
republics hurried to welcome it. Georgia is preparing a tough answer
and says Russia is likely to provoke `a parade of sovereignties’ on
its own territory. No doubt, the position of the Russian Foreign
Ministry will be rated as equivocal by the United States and Europe,’
Nezavisimaya Gazeta says foretelling tension of relations with Georgia
and reproaches from Washington addressed to Moscow over the
`incorrect’ policy pursued in the post soviet space.

`Kamynin’s statement is the first case when Russia questioned
Georgia’s territorial integrity,’ head of the Russian Institute of
National Studies Alexander Skakov said. This statement most likely
shows that Russia considers the potential of further talks with
Georgia exhausted, the expert supposes. In the opinion of observers,
the diplomats attempted to `provoke Georgia’, but one should not
expect direct collision between Moscow and Tbilisi – this is not in
interests of both states, reported the BBC Russian office.

Armenian leader not to sign peace deal with Azerbaijan – paper

Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
3 Jun 06

Armenian President Robert Kocharyan cannot sign the peace agreement
proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group because it suggests conditions that
cannot be compared even with the approaches proposed in 1997 by
Armenia’s former president, Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the Armenian
newspaper Aykakan Zhamanak has said.

The option currently proposed by the OSCE mediators is much more
disadvantageous to Armenia, the paper said. By signing this agreement,
Kocharyan will admit that predictions made by former President Levon
Ter-Petrosyan are now coming true and that “the regime change in 1998
was an ordinary coup”, the paper said.

It went on to say that Kocharyan’s only task at the moment is to
remain in power until his tenure expires in 2008.

In another article on Kocharyan’s forthcoming talks with Azerbaijani
President Ilham Aliyev in Bucharest, Aykakan Zhamanak said that
Kocharyan will not sign a peace agreement with Azerbaijan because he
does not have public support. “He does not know what public support is
because in the eight years of his presidency, he has had everything
but public support,” the newspaper said. He would probably have the
courage to sign an agreement if he was motivated to do so, it
said. Aykakan Zhamanak stressed that Kocharyan could be motivated to
sign an agreement if it confirmed Karabakh’s independence or if the
United States and the international community promised that after
signing the agreement, the governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan would
have confidence during the entire period of their rule. However, these
promises are absolutely worthless because Kocharyan might be deceived
in the end, Aykakan Zhamanak said.

At the same time, he needs titanic courage to refuse to sign the
agreement, the newspaper said.

For this reason, Kocharyan should be cunning and hold the talks in a
way that will not bring about the signing of any document, and at the
same time, make sure that no-one blames him for that, Aykakan Zhamanak
said.

AKHALKALAK SAKREBULO DEMANDS THAT POWER STRUCTURES QUICKLY DISCLOSE
AND PUNISH THOSE SPREADING ANTI-ARMENIAN LEAFLETS

AKHALKALAK, JUNE 2, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. The issue of
spreading anti-Armenian leaflets in Akhalkalak by an unknown
organization calling itself “Brigade of Akhaltskha Liberation” was
discussed by Akhalkalak regional Sakrebulo on May 31, at the
suggestion of Norik Karapetian, sakrebulo member, Chairman of the
Javakhk People’s Movement organization. According to the A-Info
agency, the sakrebulo has decided to apply to the Georgian power
structures for them to as quickly as possible disclose and call to
account those making an attempt to intimidate the Armenian population
of Javakhk.

SUREN HAROUTIUNIAN TO BE REPLACED BY OLEG YESAYAN ON POST OF RA AMBASSADOR TO BELARUS AND RA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN CIS BODIES

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 1 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 1, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Under RA President
Robert Kocharian’s June 1 decrees, Suren Haroutiunian was relieved
of the post of RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the
Republic of Belarus, as well as RA Resident Authorized Representative
in CIS regulations and other bodies. As Noyan Tapan was informed
from President’s Press Service, Oleg Yesayan (residence Minsk) was
appointed to these posts.

RUSSIA LIFTS BAN ON IMPORT OF ARMENIA’S VEGETABLES, FRUIT

ITAR-TASS, Russia
May 31 2006

MOSCOW, May 31 (Itar-Tass) – The Russian veterinary and phytosanitary
watchdog (Rosselkhoznadzor) will lift the ban on the import of
Armenian fruit and vegetables delivered via Georgia in transit,
Rosselkhoznadzor’s head Sergei Dankvert said on Wednesday.

“All details have been coordinated and the relevant memorandum is
expected to be signed later in the day with representatives of the
Armenian phytosanitary service,” he said.

Under this document, “Armenia should send a cargo confirmation letter
to Russia 24 hours before the cargo convoy departs,” Dankvert said.

“This letter should contain the numbers of phytosanitary certificates
and truck number plates,” he said.

“By this we try to ensure maximum phytosanitary control of fruit and
vegetables imported to Russia,” he said.

Rosselkhoznadzor imposed the ban on import of Armenia’s fruit and
vegetables in transit via Georgia in March as most phytosanitary
certificates proved to be forged.

During the joint consultations with Armenia, it was found out that
“these certificates were forged in Georgia,” Dankvert said.

Federation of Armenian Organizations in The Netherlands
Address: Weesperstraat 91 – 2574 VS The Hague, The Netherlands
Phone: +31704490209
Website:
E-mail: [email protected]
K.v.K. 27264382
Contact: I. Drost +31624272574 and D. Migdesyan +31653306224

PRESS RELEASE

Armenian ship Cilicia (Kilikia) in Amsterdam

Date: From 8 to 10 June 2006
Place: Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam
Kattenburgerplein 1 – 1018 KK Amsterdam

The Armenian ship Cilicia (Kilikia) will be in Amsterdam from 8 to 10 June
2006.

The ship will arrive in Amsterdam on 7 June late in the evening and will be
moored up at the Scheepvaartmuseum of Amsterdam up to 10 June.

The ship Cilicia is a replica of an Armenian Cilician trade sailing ship
from 13th century. The ship is made of wood with a total length of 20 m.

On Thursday 8 June the Dutch Armenian community will organise a welcoming
ceremony with Armenian music and dance, which starts at 12.00 am. This
ceremony will take place at the Nederlands Scheepvaartmuseum Amsterdam,
Kattenburgerplein 1 – 1018 KK Amsterdam (http://www.shipping
museum.Netherlands/index.php? TreeID=1).

You can visit the ship also on 9 and 10 June during the opening hours of the
museum from 10 am to 5 pm (Ticket prices: Adults 9 Euro, Children 6 – 18
years old 4,50 Euro, Children 0 – 6 years old  Free, Senior 65 +  4,50
Euro, Family (2 adults, 3 children 6 – 18 – 22,50 Euro).

For 3 years the ship has been travelling along the old commercial routes of
Armenian traders from Cilicia. On 11 July 2004 the ship left, under Armenian
flag, from the port of Poti in Georgia and up to present has sailed to the
following ports: Poti, Sochi, Kaffu, Istanbul, Athens, Ayas, Beirut, Haifa,
Alexandria, Iraklion, Dubrovnik, Venice, Messina, Valetta, Tunis, Rome,
Genoa, Marseilles, Barcelona, Kartakhena, Kadiz, Lisbon, Drawer, La Korunya,
San Sebastian, Drawer Rochelle, Brest, Cork, Dublin, Portsmouth. Before
arriving in Amsterdam on 7 June the ship first will call in at the port of
Antwerp.

The crew of 13 persons, among whom the Armenian writer Zori Balayan, will
organise several cultural events and meetings with the local governments and
the Armenian community.

Armenia has no sea ports at present. However the fact that she had sea ports
in the past with her own trade fleet, is probably unknown to lots of Dutch
people, a maritime and trading nation and the former trade partner of
Armenian Cilicia.

This event also means a lot to Armenia and the Armenian community. The
maritime and trading past of both Dutch and Armenian nations will become
visible, as both replica’s, namely the VOC ship “Amsterdam” and the
“Cilicia” will lay tied up near each other at the Scheepvaartmuseum from 8
to 10 June 2006.

Today, Azerbaijan
May 29 2006

MP Akram Abdullayev: “Key to solving Nagorno Karabakh is in Russia’s
hands”

29 May 2006 [20:14] – Today.Az

Azerbaijani parliamentarian Akram Abdullayev said that the Nagorno
Karabakh problem is a legacy of the Soviet Union to Azerbaijan and
Armenia and therefore the key to a solution rests in Russia’s hands.

Speaking to The New Anatolian in an exclusive interview, Abdullayev,
who describes himself as a close friend to Turkey, also dismissed the
efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Armenia towards finding a solution
to the disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh, saying that the issue is
more complicated than was predicted. He urged the big powers to work
in cooperation with Russia in order to find a solution.

Warning against the dangers of a failure to find a diplomatic
solution to the disputed enclave, Abdullayev said that the
Azerbaijani people might think of military options since it is
unacceptable for them to give these lands to Armenia. Citing the
growing Azerbaijani economy and military, and predicting that the
Azerbaijani military budget will equal Armenia’s in the years to
come, Abdullayev stated that time is on Azerbaijan’s side.

Abdullayev, a member of the Turkish-Azerbaijani Interparliamentary
Friendship Group, expressed his hope for further development and
strengthening of relations between the two countries in various
areas, calling on Turkey and other Turkic nations to bring the
genocide committed against the Turks to the agenda of European
parliaments in retaliation for Armenian genocide claims.

Touching on the Iranian nuclear standoff, the Azerbaijani
parliamentarian said his country favors a diplomatic solution to the
crisis, warning of the dangers of military action against Iran for
the region. Abdullayev also hinted at Azerbaijan’s readiness to act
like a bridge between the U.S. and Iran to bring the nuclear standoff
to an end, citing his country’s good relations with the U.S. and
historic ties with neighboring Iran.

Amid the current row between the Iranian Azeris and Tehran over an
Iranian newspaper’s publication of humiliating cartoons of Iranian
Azeris, Abdullayev stated that although the Iranian Azeris play an
important role in their country’s politics, they would not push for a
regime change in the country, despite the assertions of some U.S.
circles. Warning against any kind of foreign intervention in the
domestic affairs of a country, Abdullayev said, “The Iranian people
choose their presidents and their regime. Foreign intervention would
create dangerous results and many problems.”

Here’s what Akram Abdullayev had to tell us:

TNA: How do you see the level of relations between Turkey and
Azerbaijan, and what could be done to further develop relations?

Abdullayev: I see no problem in bilateral relations. During the
latest visit of Turkish President Ahmet Necdet Sezer to Azerbaijan,
the two sides had consultations on how to further develop relations,
and this visit was also the confirmation of strategic friendship and
cooperation between the two countries. Whenever Azerbaijan faces a
problem during Council of Europe (CoE) meetings, Turkey is the sole
supporter of Azerbaijan. The mutual support during the Council of
Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) meetings is another indicator of
our warm relations and friendship. I hope our relations will be
further developed in various areas.

TNA: What’s your idea about the Nagorno Karabakh problem? Are you
hopeful about a solution?

Abdullayev: Certainly, all the problems have solutions. Talks to find
a peaceful solution to the dispute will continue. President Ilham
Aliyev also discussed this issue during his meeting with U.S.
President George W. Bush in Washington. But should no peaceful
solution be found to the disputed enclave, the Azerbaijani people are
in favor of regaining these lands through military means. We won’t
give up these lands. We won’t present them to Armenia. If a solution
isn’t found through peace, the last resort for us is war.

TNA: What are your expectations from Turkey in this dispute?

Abdullayev: In this problem, Turkey is Azerbaijan’s political
partner. Turkey has an important role in the process of finding a
solution to the Nagorno Karabakh dispute but at the same time Turkey
has its own problems with Armenia. Armenians brought the Armenian
genocide claims to the agenda of the world in order to create a
headache for Turkey. Turkey has to work for the benefits of
Azerbaijan.

TNA: Could the process of normalization of relations between Turkey
and Armenia contribute to efforts to find a peaceful solution to the
Nagorno Karabakh dispute?

Abdullayev: This problem can’t be solved even if Turkey establishes
diplomatic relations with Azerbaijan or within the process of
normalization of relations because the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute isn’t
the problem of the region. The efforts of Turkey, Azerbaijan and
Armenia aren’t enough to solve the problem. We need the efforts of
big powers and organizations. The key to a solution is especially in
the hands of Russia. The Russian Army is in Armenia and if Azerbaijan
tries to find a solution through military means, it will face the
Russian Army.

It seems to me that finding a solution to the divided enclave is very
difficult. But time is on Azerbaijan’s side. This year Armenia’s
total budget is $1 billion, and the Azerbaijani military’s share of
the total budget is $600 billion. According to Aliyev’s estimates,
the Azerbaijani military’s share of the budget will be higher that
Armenia’s budget in the years to come. Azerbaijan is building up its
military but Armenia is unable to do that. Azerbaijan’s total budget
is more than $4 billion this year and it will be more than $6 billion
next year. As our country will develop economically, we will take our
deserved place among the world states and will have a big position.

TNA: Why aren’t Russia and other big powers working for a solution?
Do they have any interests in the continuation of the dispute in
Nagorno Karabakh?

Abdullayev: There are visible and invisible sides of politics. The
Nagorno Karabakh dispute didn’t start yesterday, it stems from the
1988 events while Gorbachev was president. Fifteen republics split
off from the Soviet Union. At that time the Soviet Union created
problems for each split-off republic in order to stop their
development. For instance, it created the Abkhazia problem for
Georgia, the Crimean problem for Ukraine and the Nagorno Karabakh
problem for Azerbaijan and Armenia. At that time nobody wanted the
dissolution of the Soviet Union but this process was inevitable in
general. The Nagorno Karabakh dispute is the legacy of the Soviet
Union to Azerbaijan. For these reasons, a solution could only be
found as a result of negotiations between Russia and other big
powers.

TNA: What is Azerbaijan’s position towards the Armenian genocide
claims and the French bill introducing prison terms for people who
question these claims?

Abdullayev: While bringing the genocide claims to the agenda of
European parliaments, Armenia aimed at creating an obstacle for
Turkey’s membership bid in the European Union. Those who brought the
issue to the French Parliament are the European parliamentarians well
paid by the Armenian lobby. Today, neither the Turkish genocide nor
the Armenian genocide is important for France.

Turks are a nation which faced a brutal genocide. But they didn’t
make their voices heard in the world. I think both Turkey and other
Turkic nations should bring the genocide committed against the Turks
to the world’s agenda and should work for the recognition of the
genocide by the international community.

TNA: What’s the position of Azerbaijan towards the nuclear standoff
between Iran and the West?

Abdullayev: Azerbaijan supports finding a diplomatic solution to the
nuclear crisis and it opposes military action against Iran.
Azerbaijan is a historic neighbor of Iran and the two countries have
good relations. There are some 20 million Iranian Azeris living in
Iran. Therefore, Azerbaijan can’t accept military action against Iran
and can’t stand to shed the blood of our brothers.

TNA: Can Azerbaijan play a mediator role between Iran and the U.S. in
the nuclear crisis, given the role of the Iranian Azeris?

Abdullayev: It might be or might not be. Since 2001 Azerbaijan has
become a member of the anti-terror coalition. It has good relations
both with the U.S. and Iran. Besides, it has cultural ties with Iran.
Iranian Azeris play a role in Iranian politics. For those reasons,
Azerbaijan can be a bridge between the U.S. and Iran. The U.S. hasn’t
suggested that Azerbaijan play such a role yet, but the Azerbaijani
Parliament might consider debating this issue.

TNA: Can the Iranian Azeris be a catalyst for regime change in Iran,
as asserted by some U.S. circles?

Abdullayev: I don’t accept the interference of any country in the
domestic affairs of another. If the Iranian citizens want to change
the regime, they will vote in accordance with this aim. The Iranian
president and regime are determined by the votes of its citizens.
Therefore, this issue should be left to the citizens. Even if the
U.S. wants to change the regime, it would be very difficult, and
intervention in Iranian politics would create dangerous consequences.

/

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