Author: Nahapetian Boris

Ïðaâî Âûaîða, Azerbaijan
Democratic Azerbaijan
Oct 6 2006

Subcommittee Meeting on Nagorni Garabagh Held
07.10.2006

In the course of PACE autumn session meeting of subcommittee on
Nagorni Garabagh was held. Head of Milli Mejlis delegation, committee
member, Samad Seidov, told AzerTaj correspondent about meeting:
– During the meeting Azerbaijani part raised the issues connected
with the most crucial problems troubling our country, – fires at
occupied territories, destinies of missing people. Armenian part also
expressed its position on certain problems. The most crucial problem
for us is to observe resolution adopted two years ago. It clearly
shows who is aggressor, what events took place in what form and who
commits ethnic cleaning. Observation of this resolution is very
important for us.

We do not regulate Nagorni Garabagh problem within the format of
Council of Europe. It is the task of OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and
they make proposals. However, we create necessary opinion complying
with interests of Azerbaijan.

We came to decision that during January session delegations of
Azerbaijan and Armenia should hold meeting jointly with Chairman of
the Committee, lord Russell Johnston, and exchange of views on
observation of the said resolution. It is very important for us.

Azerbaijan may present necessary documents. Council of Europe will
govern the course of observation of all regulations. We will maintain
Nagorni-Garabagh issue high on the agenda. During all sessions we
will draw attention of Council of Europe to this issue. In order to
control this issue, it is necessary systematically to organize these
hearings in the committee and bring position of Azerbaijan to the
notice.

As for visit of chairman of the committee, lord Russell Johnston, I
should tell that committee is completely ready to organize it. That
is, in connection with winter season visits to Azerbaijan, Armenia
and Nagorni Garabagh are postponed. We’ve come to the conclusion that
visit to region will be paid after winter session meeting.

–Boundary_(ID_ch8cjVNT1I4SwasCx8GINQ)–

TRAIAN BASESCU’S NOTE IN ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS COMMEMORATION BOOK: "IN MEMORY"

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2006 13:10 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Romanian President Traian Basescu accompanied by RA
Minister of Transport and Communications Andranik Manukian and Deputy
Foreign Minister Gegham Gharibjanian attended the Tsitsernakaberd
October 4 evening to lay a wreath to the Memorial to the Armenian
Genocide victims. The Romanian President also visited the Armenian
Genocide Museum and made a note in the Commemoration Book. "In memory",
wrote the Romanian leader. President Basescu also planted a fir in
the Memory Alley, reports IA Regnum.

PRESENTATION OF THE "REVIVAL OF SHOUSHI" FUND AND MEETING OF TRUSTEES COUNCIL

ARMINFO News Agency
October 4, 2006 Wednesday

Today in Shoushi, the Republic of Nagorni-Karabakh, presentation
of the ‘Revival of Shoushi’ fund and a session of the Trustees
Council took place. ArmInfo reports that apart from the members of
the fund, Yervand Zakharyan, Mayor of Yerevan, Anoushavan Danielyan,
Prime-Minister of Nagorni-Karabakh, and other power representatives
were present at the meeting.

"The ‘Revival of Shoushi’ fund announces the union of material and
spiritual potential to rebirth the glory, educational and other
traditions of the city,."

Anoushavan Danielyan noted that the Fund has gained credibility of
the Government of the Republic. He expressed hope that his further
work will add to the credibility.

The prime-minister of NKR said that all organizations supporting
Shoushi should cooperate. "Entrepreneurs of Artsakh and Armenia should
serve an example for others", he pointed out.

‘The Revival of Shoushi’ fund under the initiative of the Mayor
of Yerevan was established in spring 2006 as a non-governmental
humanitarian organization. Members of the fund are famous people
dealing with social and religious spheres of Armenia: Sos Sargsyan,
Levon Ananyan, Flora Nakhshkaryan, Zory Balayan, Bakyr Karapetyan,
Pargev Martirosyan, the archbishop, and others. The fund has an
architecture council. Its key task is to work out the master plan
of the town to be a Pan-Armenian cultural, educational, scientific
and tourist center. The short-term program of the fund stipulates
creation and implementation of different programs including design
and construction works till the end of the year. The fund attempts
to present a complex investment and architectural program of Shoushi
town and to take measures to improve social and economical conditions
of the population.

ARMENIAN PM: GLOBAL ALLIANCE MAY PROMOITE IT SECTOR OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Oct 4 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The UN Global Alliance for ICT
Development created after the Tunisian stage of the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) may promote the Armenian IT sector.

The Armenian Prime Minister Andranik Margarian stated this at
the October 4 meeting with the organization’s executive director
Sarbuland Khan. He expressed the Armenian government’s willingness
to take an active part in measures undertaken by the organization,
anticipating its assistance to ensure Armenia’s efficient involvement
in this process.

Noting that the Armenian government attaches great importance to IT
development, considering it as one of top priorities of the country’s
economic development, A. Margarian said that one evidence of this
is IT Month being held in Armenia in September and October of this
year, as well as various events organized during IT Month, including
International Digitec Exhibition on October 6.

S. Khan underlined that the sustainable economic growth registered
in Armenia in recent years has created good preconditions for rapid
development of information technologies. He indicated the availability
of qualified specialits, the Armenian government’s proclamation
and conducting of the appropriate policy, as well as young people’s
involvement in the ongoing process as one of the most important factors
conducive to the sector’s development. He expressed his satisfaction
at the fact that all these three factors exist in Armenia, and,
in his words, if active efforts in this direction continue, Armenia
will be able to become a IT industry leader not only in the region
but also outside it.

According to the RA Government Information and PR Department,
A. Margarian noted that Global Alliance’s programs are consistent
the programs and objectives in the Armenian IT sector. He expressed
Armenia’s willingness to do everything for further extension of
cooperation aimed at the development of IT sector.

KURDS DECLARED CEASE-FIRE

A1+
[04:45 pm] 04 October, 2006

>From October 1 the Union of Kurdistan Organizations declared cease-fire
calling on the Turkish authorities "to give up their attempts to
solve the problem by force and to start negotiations".

This was the order of Abdullah Ocalan, the leader of the Kurdish
people, who is sentenced to life imprisonment in Turkey. The Kurds
have decided to follow it, as "Turkey displays a desire to settle
separate issues".

President of "Kurdistan" Committee, editor-in-chief of newspaper
"Mesopotamia" Rash Charqyazeh says that after 2.5 years of bloodshed
between the Kurds and the Turks the international community and the
Turkish and Kurdish public and political circles are seriously
concerned and make statements about the necessity of a new
cease-fire. The previous one was violated on June 1, 2004.

"Cease-fire does not mean weakness; it means decisiveness to take new
political and diplomatic steps", says Midia Rezan, representative of
the Caucasian wing of the Kurdistan Organizations Union>

According to member of "Kurdistan" Committee, member of the National
minorities committee adjunct to the RA President Knyaz Hasanov,
during the last 20 years the Turks have leveled to earth more than
5000 Kurdish villages, more than 10 000 Kurdish people have been
sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism and tortured. "They have
also blown up a kindergarten where 11 children died and more than 10
were injured", he added.

And still, the Kurds of Armenia condemn every kind of terrorist act,
whoever might commit them.

ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN AGREE TO RESUME DIRECT TALKS
By Emil Danielyan

Radio Liberty, Czech Rep.
Oct 3 2006

The foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan will meet in Moscow
on Friday for face-to-face peace talks that could be followed by
another crucial Armenian-Azerbaijani summit on Nagorno-Karabakh,
international mediators said on Tuesday.

The senior French, Russian and U.S. diplomats co-chairing the OSCE
Minsk Group made the announcement after talks with the leaders of the
two nations. They were in Baku on Monday and are scheduled to meet
with the Armenian leadership of Karabakh in Stepanakert on Wednesday
in their latest round of shuttle diplomacy.

Speaking at a joint news conference in Yerevan, the mediators said
Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian and his Azerbaijani counterpart Elmar
Mammadyarov will likely hold another round of negotiations next week
in an attempt to kick-start the deadlocked peace process.

In the words of Bernard Fassier, the group’s French co-chair,
the two ministers will specifically look into the possibility of
organizing yet another meeting of their presidents. Fassier and his
American and Russian colleagues refused to speculate on the chances
of a breakthrough.

"We are not saying that we are on the verge of a grand breakthrough
or that the difficult problems have gotten any easier," said, Matthew
Bryza, the U.S. co-chair. "But we do sense a willingness by the sides
to think in a deeper way and to look for a way to move ahead."

Oskanian and Mammadyarov were already scheduled to meet in New York
late last month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Oskanian
effectively cancelled the meeting in protest against the assembly’s
decision to discuss the conflicts in Karabakh and elsewhere in the
former Soviet Union during its ongoing session. Armenia is strongly
opposed to any UN involvement in Karabakh talks.

The issue was included on the assembly agenda at the insistence of
Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova that make up a loose grouping
of former Soviet republics known as GUAM. They are expected to submit
a relevant resolution to the body this fall.

Bryza indicated that the United States will oppose any GUAM resolutions
that would blame the Armenian side and run counter to the main points
of a framework peace deal disclosed by the Minsk Group in June. "If
the GUAM states put forward a resolution that is not balanced, that is
not fair, that is accusatory or simply doesn’t call for a settlement
based on the basic principles we’ve articulated, it won’t be helpful
and we won’t like it," he said.

The mediators favor a gradual resolution of the Karabakh dispute that
would lead to a referendum on the disputed enclave’s status after the
liberation of surrounding Azerbaijani districts controlled by Armenian
forces. They made it clear on Tuesday that this formula remains at
the heart of their revised peace proposals. "We still believe that
our basic principles that we have articulated provide the best hope
for a fair, just and lasting settlement," said Bryza.

Presidents Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of Armenia
were widely expected to accept those principles as a basis for a more
comprehensive peace accord during two rounds of intensive negotiations
earlier this year. However, the talks yielded no agreement, all
but dashing hopes for the conflict’s settlement before the end of
this year.

Aliev has since repeatedly ruled out any settlement that would stop
short of restoring Azerbaijani control over Karabakh. He reportedly
reaffirmed this stance in an address to the Azerbaijani parliament
on Monday. Azerbaijani media quoted him as saying that Baku is under
pressure to accept a deal "contradicting the interests of our people."

"Some forces wonder why the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict has still
not be solved," Aliev said, according to the Trend news agency. "This
is so because we are not opting for agreements that are not acceptable
to us."

Bryza refused to comment on this, saying that there are discrepancies
between remarks attributed to the Azerbaijani leader by various
Azerbaijani media outlets.

Aliev was also quoted by Agence France Presse as also pledging to
"increase pressure on Armenia." "Otherwise they are not likely to give
back our territories. We must be ready for war," he said, according
to the French news agency.

Bryza reiterated in that regard the mediators’ view that "there is
no military settlement to the Karabakh conflict."

JACQUES CHIRAC: WE MUST WANT, WISH AND BELIEVE IN PEACE

Panorama.am
13:39 02/10/06

The Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin B received on Sunday Jacques
Chirac, President of France and the delegation spearheaded by him.

President Chirac expressed an honest interest to the religious center
with 1705 time record. Greeting the guest Catholicos Garegin B said
France’s President’s visit commemorates 15th anniversary of the
Armenian statehood and the events to be organized within the year
of Armenia in France. "It is a beautiful proof of the friendship
between our nations," the Catholicos said. He thanked the president
for the support to the Armenian nation. He especially thanked for
hosting the Armenians who fled from the Turkish massacres during the
Armenian Genocide. The Catholicos also informed the president that
the Armenian Church will have a diocese in France from now one.

The French president also thanked the religious head of All
Armenians. "We are happy that you will have a diocese in France. You
know that there many French people of Armenian decent in France due to
historical circumstances." Speaking about the genocide, the president
of France said, "It’s natural that France was one of the first
countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide. I hope by condemning
such crimes, we will stop the repetition in future." President Chirac
reiterated that France takes all the steps to contribute to Karabakh
conflict settlement. "We must want, wish and believe in peace,"
he said.

PRESIDENT OF FRANCE VISITS ARMENIAN GENOCIDE MUSEUM

ARMINFO News Agency
September 30, 2006 Saturday

President of France Jacques Chirac with spouse Bernadette Chirac
laid flowers on the Armenian Genocide Memorial "Tsitsernakaberd,"
on Saturday in the morning.

Visiting the Genocide Museum-Institute and meeting with the Director of
the Institute-Museum, Doctor of Historical Studies Lavrenty Barseghyan,
Jacques Chirac expressed a great excitement. The French president
put a note of one word "Remember!" in the Book of Honorable Quests
of the Museum. Then, by tradition, the French president planted a
fir-tree in the alley on "Tsitsernakaberd."

The delegation of the French president comprises Foreign Minister
Philippe Douste-Blazy, Transport, Tourism and Navigation Minister
Dominique Perben, Minister of State Service Christian Jacob, Minister
of Culture and Communications Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres.

Accompanying the delegation are businessmen, representatives of
science, education, culture and sport, as well as members of the
French-Armenian Diaspora and journalists.

NAGORNO-KARABAKH PEOPLE MADE THEIR CHOICE LONG AGO
Christine Mnatsakanian

Azat Artsakh, Republic of Nagorno Karabakh
Sept 29 2006

On September 26 Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanian met with the
OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. We have learned from the department of
public relations of the Armenian foreign ministry that the current
state of negotiations was discussed in the context of the new
initiative of GUAM on the agenda of the UN General Assembly. And on
September 25 Vardan Oskanian made a speech in the 61st session of the
UN General Assembly. The foreign minister asserted the fact that the
only settlement of the Karabakh conflict is compromise and realism,
"Armenia expressed its standpoint clearly. We agreed to every basic
principle of the document on the table. In bringing into being this
or another document Azerbaijan cannot think or pretend that it still
has the military option. They tried out the military way and failed.

Compromise and realism are the only realistic variants," said
the minister, according to the department of public relations of
the foreign ministry. The minister described the present policy of
Azerbaijan to neglect whatever took place over the past 20 years as
unrealistic and dishonest. Vardan Oskanian thinks that nobody can
accuse us of our confidence that Azerbaijan is not ready or is not
interested in the talks. "By rejecting the former two proposals based
on compromise presented in the past 8 years, they are reluctant to
assume responsibility for having rejected the plan of establishing
peace, thereby using every means, including state violence and
international maneuvers to get the Armenians reject it," said the
minister. With regard to the settlement in the context of territorial
integrity or the right for self-determination, Vardan Oskanian says
Azerbaijan’s efforts to place territorial integrity above all the
other principles were promoted, especially in this hall. However,
he says, the right to self-determination was placed on an equal basis
with the other principles in the Helsinki final act. He thinks that
the Nagorno-Karabakh people made their choice. "They were victims of
state violence, defended themselves and succeeded despite all," said
Vardan Oskanian. He stated that the states must deserve their right to
rule. "Azerbaijan did not treat the people of Nagorno Karabakh with
responsibility or morally who were its citizens. In towns, far from
Nagorno Karabakh, they slaughtered, bombed and displaced 300 thousand
Armenians, and after the defeat they started sweeping all the traces of
Armenians, demolishing thousands of khachkars and gravestones," stated
the foreign minister at the session of the UN General Assembly. Vardan
Oskanyan said this means that the attitude of Azerbaijan to tolerance,
human values, culture, cooperation and even peace has not changed.

JACQUES CHIRAC: FRANCE IS READY TO ASSIST MODERNIZATION AND DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMY OF ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 29 2006

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 29, NOYAN TAPAN. France wants to accompany Armenia
in the process of its political modernization, support its will to
build a legal state what may be a guarantee for public freedoms.

President of France Jacques Chirac made such a statement in the
September 28 interview to the "Hayastani Hanrapetoutiun" (Republic
of Armenia) newspaper, touching upon present and future of the
Armenian-French mutual relations. He added that France is ready to
assist modernization and diversification of economy for Armenia is
capable to create the best future for its sons.

The President of France mentioned that the two nations have the same
preferences: independence, priesthood, wisdom in art and culture,
beauty and sacredness of the languages. "The present is that
natural inner generality and also about 500 000 Frenchmen taking
roots from the land of Armenia. They gave to France their courage,
talent, nobleness. They also remained tied with Armenia. They assist
strengthening of our tie," J.Chirac emphasized.

"An old nation like your’s must not apprehend taking the road of
future," Jacques Chirac said.

On the eve of the state visit to be paid to Armenia on September 29,
the President of France wished the Armenian people for this year more
strengthens centuries-old friendship between Armenia and France: "…

Let numerous Frenchmen come to reveal this country, the soul of its
nature, monasteries, culture, warmness, let our friendship assist
implementation of hopes of the Armenian people’s daughters and sons,"
Jacques Chirac said.