Author: Maghakian Mike

A COMMON SOLDIER OF THE ARMY OF AZERBAIJAN WAS KILLED AS A RESULT OF ATTACK FROM THE ARMENIAN SIDE
Source: Informacionnoe agenstvo “Turan”(Baku), March 31, 2006
Translated by Anastasia Zanina
Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
April 3, 2006 Monday
Today at about 12 o’clock p.m. as a result of the engagement of the
positions of the army of Azerbaijan near the village Alibeili in
Tovyzsky region common soldier, Aliev Farid, was killed (1986 year
of birth). As was reported to the press service of the Minister
of Defense, the fire was started by Armenians from the side of the
village Ajgepar of Berdsky region. (…)
This was the sixth case of death of Azerbaijan military men during
the current month, and several men were injured.

KARABAKH ANALYST: SUBJECTIVITY AND DOUBLE STANDARDS HINDER SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS
17:28 04/04/2006
“While solving all kinds of conflicts so-called ‘double standards’
always appear. There is an opinion; these standards are negative
phenomenon, which hampers final conflict settlement, especially
international ones. But it would be a serious mistake categorically to
maintain rightfulness of such approach,” expressed such opinion adviser
to Nagorno Karabakh president David Babayan, interviewed by REGNUM.
According to him, double standards are, first of all, clearly defined
state interests; and in such context, presence of double standards,
i.e. clear objective interests by different actors and interested
sides in conflict settlement, especially international ones, may give
additional impetus for the conflicts’ settlement, because in case
of clash of different interests, inhered in both conflict parties
and external powers, possibility of finding compromise appears. “In
such case, the double standards become necessary element of conflict
settlement. But they really begin to hamper conflict settlement, and
sometimes worsen situation, if they are based on subjective approaches,
because of which they often totally reverse.
Discrimination, as most dangerous result of subjectivism in double
standards, is most striking example of that,” said David Babayan.
At the same time, he stressed, at present there are clear double
standards — both objective and subjective ones — in conflict
settlement, especially in post-Soviet space. “Among all foreign
actors the USA and Turkey have most clearly defined interests. Iran
has its permanent interests too. Changes of interests of Russia
are obvious. Parties, which immediately conflict, have rather clear
position in Nagorno Karabakh settlement. Europe as whole has more or
less unclear interests, and it may be explained by fact, that Europe
is still forming, and continuing to look for compromise foreign policy
doctrine. The latter becomes rather apparent during visits of some
European politicians to the region too”, said the analyst.
As an example David Babayan named former Spain Foreign Minister Anna
Palacio, who visited Stepanakert as member of group of analysts and
former politicians two years ago. “I had occasion to speak with her
rather long on Nagorno Karabakh settlement. Of course, the matter
concerned territories. Palacio did not know details of the question,
and I explained her, among other things, territorial questions have
many ingredients, in particular, political, military, ecological
aspects. She especially interested in ecological aspects, and in
the context, I presented her importance of Kelbajar area, where 85%
of water resources of former Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Republic
originated, including rivers Arpa and Vorotan. They play key role to
rescue Lake of Sevan which contains 80% of Armenian water reserves.
Vitally importance of the territory, especially taking into
consideration facts of hydro-terror from Azerbaijan, as well as
its threat to repeat them in future, if the area is controlled by
Azerbaijan again, was stressed. On the following day Palacio told me,
she had been thinking about our conversation the whole night, and had
concluded, Kelbajar area might not be returned to Azerbaijan because
of guaranteeing water security of Nagorno Karabakh and Armenia. But
in her article in Washington Post, published on April 11 of this year,
Palacio stated, Armenia had to return Azerbaijan ‘occupied territories,
around disputable territory, Karabakh must receive full autonomy
before definition of its final status’ etc. It is nothing else, but
a subjective approach, and may be to a certain extent a mercantile
one, fully corresponding with winged words ‘O tempora, o mores!’,”
resumed David Babayan.

SITUATION IN GEORGIA’S ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGION BACK TO NORMAL – AGENCY
Arminfo, Yerevan
4 Apr 06
Akhalkalaki, 4 April: The situation in the Armenian-populated
Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia is gradually getting back
to normal.
After protest rallies and riots that followed the killing of ethnic
Armenian Gevork Gevorkyan in Tsalka District on 9 March, the life in
the region is “gradually getting back to normal”, A-info news agency
reported today.
The press service of the council of Armenian public organizations in
Samtskhe-Javakheti said that the Armenian population of the region
is waiting for a just verdict from Georgia’s law-enforcement agencies
on the killing of Gevork Gevorkyan. This is the reason the situation
in the region is currently calm, the press service said.
The Armenian population of Samtskhe-Javakheti has become more vigilant
and is trying not to yield to provocation. For instance, unnamed people
spread information, urging people to participate in a rally planned
to be held on a square in the town of Akhalkalaki on 16 March. But
no-one went to that rally.
The council of Armenian public organizations of Samtskhe-Javakheti
states that the rally had been planned by those who are trying to
destabilize the situation in the region, A-info reported.

INTERNATIONAL QUALITY CERTIFICATE TO BE GIVEN TO LABORATORY OF BLOOD ANTIBODIES DIAGNOSIS OF “ARMENIAN BONE MARROW DONOR REGISTRY”
Noyan Tapan
Apr 03 2006
YEREVAN, APRIL 3, NOYAN TAPAN. The European Federation for
Immunogenetics will give the international quality certificate to
the Laboratory of Blood Antibodies Diagnosis of the “Armenian Bone
Marrow Donor Registry” charity fund. As Sevak Avagian, the Executive
Director of the fund mentioned at the March 30 press-conference,
they satisfied all the demands proposed by the federation to get that
certificate. According to him, as the registry is a body working
with international structures, so having such a certificate is
very important. As Krissa Papasteriades, the representative of the
federation mentioned, existence of a package facting the quality
of qualified specialists, modern equipment and work are among the
demands presented to laboratories to get such qualification. It was
also mentioned that the Armenian registry has more than 10 thousand
donors at present. 400 patients have addressed to the registry by
now, data of 300 of who coincided with data of donors registered
at the Armenian registry. 6 marrow stem cell transplantations with
participation of donors of the registry were implemented in different
countries based on compatibilities found out till today.

TURKISH AND FRENCH INTELLECTUALS AGREE ON TURKEY’S EU MEMBERSHIP
Zaman, Turkey
April 2 2006
Turkish and French intellectuals, who gathered for the 10th Abant
Platform in Paris, discussed Europe’s future.
Issues such as, “Globalization and Liberalism” and “What kind of
a Europe?,” were discussed in the last part of the meeting. The
intellectuals questioning the future of Europe agreed on the idea
that Turkey’s European Union (EU) membership would make a significant
contribution to Europe. Professor Nilufer Gole told that intellectuals
from both countries came together for the first time in this frame
explaining that, “The intellectuals laid their hearts beyond the
discussions. This is crucial for the bilateral relations.”
French philosopher Olivier Abel told Europe needs Turkey for its own
future. “Europe should accept Turkey as a member in order to complete
its democratization,” he noted.
Galatasaray University faculty member Professor Kenan Gursoy, who
made the closing speech together with Abel, received a loud applause
when he explained the legendary Turks’ march from Ergenekon to Europe.
Speaking in the morning session of the meeting, French philosopher
Professor Monique Canto Sperber, a lecturer in one of the prestigious
French schools, Ecole Normale Superieure , told EU was undergoing
a transformation and Turkey would play a bridge role for the EU. He
defended that the liberal economy changed the borders of Europe adding,
“We see that Europe’s geo-strategic understanding has started to
change.” The French thinker told Turkey encountered many problems
during its globalization process, “It is natural for Turkey, which was
established on the basis of the nation-state model, to be influenced
from Europe,” he said. Sperber claimed that it was very important
how Turkey would take steps before issues such as the Kurdish issue,
rising nationalism and the Armenian genocide allegations.
Indicating globalization turned the entire world into a single type,
Sperber told this yielded a different outcome and strengthened
the local identities in all the societies. “Globalization does
not guarantee a world of peace where all the nation states are
eliminated. On the contrary, it causes communities to highlight their
cultural identities with the instinct of defense, “he expressed.

PREDICTIONS BY “NEW TIMES”
Panorama.am
14:44 31/03/06
The head of “Nor Jamanakner” (New Times) party Aram Karapetyan
says that part of the finances of Lincy fund did not serve their
purpose. “As far as I am concerned it is demanded that Artashed
Toumanyan should pay about 3 millions back as a result of abuses,”
the political figure says calling the publications in the Mass Media
his source of information.
“Every day that person is called to 6th department, to the
State Security Service. They want to tell him something, don’t
they?” Moreover, A. Karapetyan is not sure that such abuses will
not be allowed in case of 235.65 million USD given to our country
by Millennium War-calls Corporation. “I think part of the money will
certainly be robbed,” the leader of “New Times” predicts the fate of
the American grant. /Panorama.am/

Dartmouth Conference Co-Chair: Karabakh Independent De Facto
PanARMENIAN.Net
01.04.2006 01:06 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The Dartmouth Conference format is unique
because joint Russian-American projects are few in number over
the difference in approaches towards regional conflicts, co-chair
of the Dartmouth Conference working group for regional conflicts
Vitaly Naumkin stated during round-table discussions in Stepanakert,
reported by the information and analytical department of the NKR
MFA. “The fact of our constructive cooperation in the course of many
years should arouse trust in the format. Nagorno Karabakh despite
all the difficulties was recognized as a party to conflict and this
is undoubtedly the achievement of the Dartmouth process. Certainly,
such approach demanded effort and bravery of the parties,” Naumkin
said. “We want to help people to speak and settle the issues of
peace but not war. This is the essence of peace building through new
relations between the people,” he said.
According to the diplomat, the intermediate status offered in the
document automatically recognized Nagorno Karabakh as an independent
side. “This appears as certain legitimization of Nagorno Karabakh as
a party with responsibilities and rights,” Naumkin said. “The idea of
intermediate status doesn’t suppose renunciation of anything. Nagorno
Karabakh is independent de facto. We just propose to join the peaceful
process. We view the intermediate status as the process of joining
the negotiations. In our documents we create a trilateral format where
Nagorno Karabakh appears as a full party,” the Russian diplomat stated.

Armenian ex-minister says Karabakh settlement part of USA’s Iran plan
Aykakan Zhamanak, Yerevan
25 Mar 06
Excerpt from Nikol Pashinyan’s report in Armenian newspaper Aykakan
Zhamanak on 25 March headlined “Unfortunately, there is no alternative
to Ter-Petrosyan”
An interview with former Interior Minister Vano Siradegyan.
[Passage omitted: Siradegyan on what he has been doing since leaving
the post]
[Correspondent] How do you assess today’s domestic political situation
in Armenia?
[Siradegyan] There has been no sign of a political life over the past
18 months. The political elite is evidently confused and is gradually
slipping into a state of panic. Incidentally, the opposition is in
more panic.
[Passage omitted: minor details]
[Correspondent] How do you assess the international position of Armenia
and, in particular, today’s situation around the Karabakh issue? Can
hostilities resume?
[Siradegyan] Those who support preserving the status quo in the matter
of Karabakh, i.e. political idlers, and those who have cashed in on
the blockade believe that the situation created around Iran will delay
the Karabakh issue even more. They think we shall be forgotten. But
quite the contrary is more likely. I am afraid that Iran’s problem
may be settled “stage by stage” and that Karabakh will be its first
stage. That is to say, Armenian troops will be removed from the left
bank of the River Araz.
One should not think that Washington is exhausted because of the
situation in Iraq. Nobody knows whether or not the occupation of
Iraq was the next stage after Afghanistan in the programme of Iranian
“problem settlement”. Anyway, the problem of the left bank is always
on the agenda. It becomes the third and even the fourth stage if we
take into account the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
The threat of war is serious because both political and diplomatic
resources of the authorities have been exhausted. One or two more
meetings will mean nothing. There are two ways out: either resignation
or war. I think that resignation is more possible.
[Passage omitted: Siradegyan speculates on domestic political
relations, possible development of events]

NO CHILDREN’S DRUG ADDICTION IN ARMENIA
YEREVAN, MARCH 29. ARMINFO. There is no problem of children’s drug
addiction in Armenia, said On a joint press conference with the head
of CSTO drugs department Victor Cherkesov, the chief of the Police
of Armenia lieutenant-general Hayk Harutiunian.
At the same time the lieutenant-general admitted that single teenagers
are detained for illegal keeping and use of drugs (less than 4 persons
a year). He said this has never become a serious problem in Armenia
and never will. Mr. Harutiunian added that drugs addiction is alien
to the Armenian people traditionally. He stated that is spite of
growing interests of the criminals to transfer drugs through Armenia,
drug addiction remains on a low level in Armenia.

ARMENIA PLEDGES TO FULFIL RECOMMENDATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL CORRUPTION WATCHDOG
Mediamax news agency
29 Mar 06
Yerevan, 29 March: Armenia has received 24 recommendations from the
Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe,
the head of the Armenian delegation to GRECO, Artur Osikyan, has said
at a news conference in Yerevan today.
He noted that these recommendations have been drawn up on the basis
of the report about the corruption situation in Armenia. He said that
the Armenian side pledged to fulfil the recommendations within the
next 18 months.
The Armenian president’s adviser on issues of fighting corruption,
Bagrat Yesayan, expressed hope that the ruling coalition will make
every effort to fulfil the recommendations. He said that 364 criminal
proceedings on corruption were instituted in Armenia in 2005, which
is 12 cases more than in 2004.
Bagrat Yesayan said that the damage from corruption totalled 3.4bn
drams [7.6m dollars] in 2005, 236.4m drams [524,000 dollars] of which
have been returned. He also noted that 97 Armenian officials were
charged with corruption in 2005.