Author: Nahapetian Samvel

CHAIR OF MUSAVAT PARTY MEETS WITH OSCE MG CO-CHAIR STEVEN MANN
Author: S.Ilhamgizi
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
March 14 2006
On Tuesday Isa Gambar, the chairman of Musavat Party, met with Steven
Mann, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, and Daniel Fried, the Assistant
Secretary of the U.S. State for European and Eurasian Affairs, the
party told Trend.
At the meeting the sides held exchange of opinions on the
public-political situation in Azerbaijan after the parliamentary
elections, ways of the regulation of the Azerbaijani-Armenian conflict,
as well as the Azerbaijani-U.S. relations, regional security and
cooperation.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AZERBAIJAN’S MINISTRY OF CULTURE ADDRESSES “EUROVISION” CONTEST ORGANIZERS WITH LETTER OF PROTEST
Prime News Agency, Georgia
March 14 2006
Tbilisi, March 14 (Prime-News) – Statement of Ministry of Culture and
Tourism of Azerbaijan reads that the Ministry is worried with the
fact that the singer from Armenia – Andre notes his place of birth
as Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh at contest’s official site.
As a result, the letter was sent to contest organizers, where this fact
is recognized as “disrespect of Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity”
and “provocation, which can be interpreted as support of Armenia’s
aggressive politics”.
Such facts can have a negative influence on the process of conflict
resolution, the statement reads.
‘Eurovision’ representatives have told that information about Andre
soon will be changed.
Svante Stockselius, European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) Executive
Supervisor of ‘Eurovision’, stated that the contest isn’t a political
event, and information on the official site has no hidden political
motives.
Singer Andre will represent Armenia at the contest, which will be
held in Athens on May 18-20. Armenia is the only country from South
Caucasus, which will participate in the prestigious song contest
organized by EBU.
Trend News agency informs that the Eurovision management corrected
the mistake on their website and have taken off all the materials on
the birthplace of Armenian singer Andre, who has mentioned it as the
Nagorno-Karabakh republic after the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of
Azerbaijan has addressed the contest organizers demanding to correct
the mistakes on their website, Abulfaz Garayev, Azerbaijani Minister
of Culture and Tourism, stated.

BIRD FLU LESS PROBABLE IN ARMENIA
By Nana Petrosian
AZG Armenian Daily #187
18/10/2005
Healthcare
No Cases Registered Till Today
This is the time of the year that birds leave Armenia for warmer
countries thus diminishing the probability of bird flu in the
republic. Yet, Vartan Ayvazyan, ecology minister of Armenia, warned
the hunters to give up their hobby for a while.
Healthcare minister Norayr Davidian informed that the Ministry
receives weekly information on the bird flu for the ire region and
takes measures to suppress any case of the flu. The officials in the
Ministry are trying to acquire appropriate vaccines.
The minister said that there was an epidemic of bird flu back in 1918
that took the life of 50 million people.

RASUL GULIEV – THE LEADING AZERBAIJANI OPPOSITIONIST WHO LOST TWICE
Axis News
Oct 17 2005
Asim Oku, AIA Turkish and Caucasian section
The leader of Azerbaijan’ s opposition Democratic Party of Azerbaijan
Rasul Guliyev’s plans to end his nine-year exile in the USA and to
return to Azerbaijan to take part in the country’s parliamentary
elections caused serious tensions. In the capital of Azerbaijan,
police have blocked access to the city’s airport and said it will
arrest Guliev if he enters the country. He knew about that, and
claimed in an interview with the Azeri service of the BBC, he does
not fear arrest. “I come to fight for victory in the parliamentary
elections. My goal is to fight dictatorship, corruption and monopolies
in Azerbaijan.” However, his glorious homecoming turned into a farce
as at the last minute he got cold legs and decided not to come back,
but to stop in Ukraine. He refused to continue the flight on the
chartered plane. And there, at Simferopol’s airport he was arrested
by Ukrainian law enforcement, for he is on the international wanted
list. Guliev was detained at the request of Azerbaijani authorities,
which seek his extradition, the press secretary of Ukraine’s interior
Minister said. So he lost twice – he didn’t manage to get home and
got arrested anyway. And his supporters, who were ready to fight for
him with the Azerbaijani security services, known for their brutality,
are very disappointed.
“I urge the Azerbaijani authorities to avoid any oppression (of
civil rights) and I call on the nation to stage civil unrest against
violations of human rights,” Rasul Guliev said in an October 11
telephone conference call scheduled by the Committee for the Protection
of his rights. The people were ready but the leader failed them. Who
is this man and was he worth fighting for in the first place?
A Close Friend and the Harsh Foe of Heydar Aliev
Guliev is married and has two sons and a daughter. He was born in
1948 in Nakhichevan in a southeast of Azerbaijan, as well as Heydar
Aliyev. Since 1962, after graduating petro-mechanical faculty of the
Azerbaijan institute of oil and chemistry (today – Azerbaijan State
Oil Academy (ASOA), he worked at the Baky Oil Refinery. Has made
there an outstanding career – from the ordinary engineer up to the
general director. He is a candidate of Technical Science.
In 1990 year he was elected the Member of the Supreme Soviet of
Azerbaijan, and then, after Azerbaijan gaining independence, the
Member of National Parliament. Together with the opposition he
struggled against the regime of the President Ayaz Mutalibov.
At the beginning of the Nineties he contacted with Heydar Aliyev – the
former head of the KGB in Azerbaijan and the Member of the Political
Bureau. At the beginning of 1993, some months prior to revolution
as a result of which Aliyev came to power, Guliev received a post
of vice-president of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijani Republic
(SOCAR), and later became the vice-Premier of Azerbaijan.
After his coming to power Aliyev appointed Guliev the chairman of
the Parliament.
In November, 1995 he was again elected to the Parliament, and again
held a post of the chairman.
Owing to the deterioration of relations with Heydar Aliyev in
September, 1996 Rasul Guliev abandoned the post “because of the health
problems” and leaves for the USA “for medical treatment”.
Already being in America he accused Aliyev and his coterie of
corruption, clanning and lawlessness. He issued three books in which
sharply criticized the ruling elite of Azerbaijan. (“Oil And Politics”,
“Path To Democracy” and “Purpose Of Our Struggle”.) At the end of
1997 under the decision of the Azerbaijani Parliament Guliev was
deprived of parliamentary immunity; criminal proceeding against him
was instituted. Guliev was accused that being in 1990-95 the director
of the Baku Oil Refinery he defalcated $107 million.
In 1998, already being abroad, Guliev was elected the co-chairman
of Democratic Party of Azerbaijan (established in 1992). After the
split of the party in 2000 Rasul Guliev became its only leader.
In the spring of 2005 Democratic Party enters oppositional bloc
“Azadliq”, which includes “Musavat” – “Equality” – the oldest and
the biggest opposition movement led by Isa Gambar, and the Azerbaijan
Popular Front Party (APFP) under the leadership of Ali Kerimli.
On August, 27, 2005, Guliev was registered by the Central Electoral
Committee as the candidate to the Parliament. After this in connection
with his statements on his return to Azerbaijan the Office of Public
Prosecutor of Azerbaijan issued an arrest warrant on him.
An Oppositionist or a Crook?
Guliev is rightfully considered to be the largest independent
Azerbaijani oligarch. Presumably, he gained his fortune at the
beginning of the Nineties by reselling oil abroad under cover of
“waste products,” when he headed Baku’s Refinery. He is extremely
ambitious and combines features of speculator and master of secret
intrigue. Being a director of the largest factory in republic and
vice-President of SOCAR, he actively influenced the policy of the first
two Azerbaijani governments, and Presidents Ayaz Mutalibov and Abulfaz
Elchibey. He used his financial opportunities and connections to assist
Heydar Aliyev’s coming to power and in 1993-96 became actually, despite
of a puppet post of the chairman of the Parliament, the second person
in the country after the President. However, it was insufficient for
ambitious magnate, and he made unsuccessful attempt to push Aliyev
aside from authority, and was compelled to flee the country.
Overthrown by Aliyev Abulfaz Elchibey openly accused Guliev of
treachery. “Rasul, you have knocked me down,” he declared, addressing
Guliev, who was already over the ocean.
The political program of Democratic Party is rather dim. Except for
appeals to “democracy and free economy”, Guliev did not define his
position on key questions for Azerbaijan, such as social problems,
strengthening of Islamic tendencies, and, most important, the Karabakh
question – an integral part of all political programs in Azerbaijan.
Towards the authorities he takes extremely radical position, demanding
from opposition a “revolutionary” – that is violent actions to
overthrow the regime. He asserts that the establishment of democracy
in the republic is possible only by applying force.
Main electorate of Guliev consists of the natives from Nakhichevan.
During all his political activity Guliev constantly changed allies
and views concerning the methods of political struggle. Being a short
time partner of Elchibey, he demanded to exclude from the Popular
Front of Azerbaijan (PFA) the “Yurd” – (Homeland) youth organization
led by Ali Kerimli. Guliev accused Kerimli of cooperation with
authorities. Today Kerimli is a partner of Guliev in “Azadliq” –
the largest oppositional bloc.
At the end of the Nineties he rejected the idea of creation of the
bloc of oppositional forces, sharply criticizing the oldest and
largest opposition party “Musavat”, however, before the presidential
elections in October, 2003, he declared of his support to Isa Gambar,
and in the spring 2005, he joined the “Azadliq” bloc.
Guliev’s Strange Choice Of Actions
At the initial stage Rasul Guliev received the US support, however,
because of a scandal around his financial swindles and unpredictable
changes in his political views and constant changing of political
allies Washington began to distance from him.
As the General Prosecutor of Azerbaijan Zakir Garalov stated “Claims
that the US will support Guliev are mere “political speculation”.
This may be the reason for such a strange behavior of Guliev. As the
AIA sources in Baku reported, his decision to come back home was not
coordinated with the US authorities.
He planned it with the other opposition leaders, who, after his
arrest by the Azerbaijani security would have publicly turned to
the USA demanding to support “the leading democratic leader”, and
to pressure Baku’s regime on his release. Of course in the case of
success his chances to win the elections would have skyrocketed,
for the people would see him as the leader, who is backed up by such
a superpower as America.
There are two possibilities, our sources note. The USA didn’t like
the idea to be presented with a fait accompli and actually blackmailed
in a certain way to take rush actions. It seems that Americans do not
consider Guliev as trustworthy ally and true democrat. Somebody, lets
say from the State Department may have hinted Guliev that his trick
will nor work and the Americans will not apply pressure on Baku. Or
there is an option that certain opposition leaders in Azerbaijan
decided to walk away from the plan, considering it unfair, for they
are struggling with the regime for many years and Guliev plans to
use them to gain what they where fighting for a long time.
Anyway, the “homecoming” fiasco may totally hamper not only his chances
at the elections but and cost him a bitter price, for his supporters
fell betrayed.
ticle=441

ARMENIAN PONTIFF PUSHES FOR RECOGNITION OF GENOCIDE
By Peter Prengaman
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Contra Costa Times, San Francisco, CA
Oct 17 2005
LOS ANGELES – Two recent life insurance settlements for decedents
of Armenians killed 90 years ago by the Turkish Ottoman Empire are
a first step toward international recognition that the bloodshed was
an act of genocide, the Armenian pontiff said Sunday.
His Holiness Aram I, on a two-week visit through Southern California,
home to the largest Armenian community outside the Asian country,
said the financial settlements could help prod Turkey and Turkish
allies like the United States to declare the killing of up to 1.5
million Armenians in eastern Turkey a genocide.
“The settlements will be helpful in raising awareness,” Aram I said in
an interview Sunday with The Associated Press. “If we are committed
to preventing future genocide in the world, the world must recognize
the genocide that has happened.”
Aram I, the spiritual head of one of the Armenian Apostolic Church’s
two branches, said gaining recognition for the mass killings took
on a religious meaning for thousands of Armenian families who fled
Armenia during the turmoil and have yet to return.
The church is a focal point for the Armenian diaspora, including the
estimated 500,000 Armenians living in Southern California.
“The crime and sin must be acknowledged by those who committed it,”
Aram I said.
Turkey acknowledges that large numbers of Armenians died between 1915
and 1923, but says the totals have been exaggerated and that the deaths
occurred in the civil unrest during the collapse of the Ottoman Empire.
France, Russia and many other countries have declared the killings
genocide. Turkish allies including the United States and neighboring
Azerbaijan have not.
Last week, French life insurance company AXA agreed to pay $17
million to settle a class-action lawsuit filed by descendants of
Armenians killed, splitting the money between about 5,000 people and
charities. That came after New York Life Insurance Co. and heirs of
some 2,400 policyholders agreed last year to a $20 million settlement,
believed to be the first in connection with the disputed event.
Turkey, which has no diplomatic ties with Armenia, is facing increasing
international pressure to fully acknowledge the event as it seeks
membership in the European Union.
It was the pontiff’s third trip to California since being elected in
1995 as head of the Great House of Cilicia, the diaspora branch of
the church based in Lebanon.
During the visit, Aram I has led a handful of masses at Armenian
churches, met with local political leaders and spoken to groups
including the World Affairs Council of Los Angeles.
The church’s other branch, the Catholicosate of All Armenians,
is headquartered in Armenia. Its pontiff, His Holiness Karekin II,
visited California in June.
The church split administratively more than 50 years ago while Armenia
was under the control of the Soviet Union.
Aram I said the division turned out to be a “blessing” because
it allowed the Armenian Church to better connect with millions of
Armenians living abroad.
Less than 3 million live in Armenia while more than 1 million live
in the United States. There are also large numbers in Lebanon, Iran
and Syria.
“At this point, the two centers are serving their people,” said Aram
I when asked if the administrative centers might someday consolidate.
“What will happen in the future, nobody knows.”
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

German DDP news agency, Germany
Oct 12 2005
Turkey “irrevocably” on way to EU – outgoing German chancellor
Istanbul: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (SPD [Social Democratic
Party]) sees Turkey as being irrevocably on its way into the EU. The
goal of the accession negotiations opened on 3 October can only be
the country’s membership in the European Union and “nothing else”
said Schroeder on Wednesday [ 12 October] in Istanbul according to
the text of his speech at the breaking of the fast together with
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The chancellor described
the start of membership negotiations as a historic event. Regardless
of the differing opinions of the Union [CDU/CSU (Christian Democratic
Union/Christian Social Union)] and the SPD on the Turkish issue,
Schroeder, according to the text of the speech distributed
beforehand, emphasized: “When we close this chapter, it will no
longer be called Turkey and the European Union but Turkey in the
European Union.”
Until then, however, the road is still a long and laborious one. “But
this effort is worth it, because it makes a common future possible,”
said Schroeder and added: “And our future can only be a common one,
with a strong Turkey in a strong European Union.”
Schroeder praised the radical path of reform which Turkey has entered
onto under his “friend” Erdogan. The chancellor expressly
acknowledged that Erdogan is making efforts to normalize relations
with Armenia.
Europe and Turkey now have the important task ahead of them to show
that despite such disagreements “a cooperation has developed and can
continue to develop.” It is important to eliminate mutual
reservations and doubts. In this context Schroeder referred to the
fact that many Turks live in Western Europe; there are 2.5 million in
Germany alone.
Erdogan had invited Schroeder as the first Western head of government
to break the traditional fast with him early in the evening. During
Ramadan devout Muslims are not allowed to have any food from sunup to
sundown. The daily breaking of the fast – called Iftar – is a festive
meal, which is often eaten with the immediate family or with close
friends. Schroeder said he was aware of this honour. Late in the
evening he intended to meet with Erdogan for political discussions.
The chancellor is expected back in Germany on Thursday.

U.S. ALLOCATED FUNDS TO RA PARLIAMENT
A1+
| 21:01:29 | 13-10-2005 | Politics |
The U.S. allocated $2 million to the RA national Assembly. The
memorandum was signed today by Chairman Artur Baghdassaryan and
representative of the U.S. Agency for International Development
Robin Phillips.
In the course of the event Artur Baghdassaryan stated, “The world
belongs to optimists, pessimists are playing the role of observers. The
optimism of the Speaker lies in his confidence that after the
referendum on November 27 the Constitution will strengthen the role
of the parliament. And the parliament should be ready for it. $2
million will be spent on these preparations. NA specialists training,
technical re-equipment and international exchanged will take place.
Artur Baghdassaryan said he hopes that the nation-parliament ties
will also activate.
The NA-USAID cooperation is planned till 2007.

HEADS OF EUROPEAN BANKS ARE IMPRESSED
A1+
| 12:59:56 | 14-10-2005 | Official |
Today RA Prime Minister Andranik Margaryan received the members of
the Directors’ Council of the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.
They congratulated the Government on the impressive economic indexes
of development for the last few years mentioning that the European
Bank intends to enlarge the number of its programs in Armenia and
enhance cooperation.
Andranik Margaryan highly appreciated the activity of EBRD in our
country underlining that it has improved its quality greatly. According
to the RA Government head, the work with the business community in
the private sector, and programs realized by EBRD in bank, power,
and security systems have had their direct effect on the development
of economy.
He found cooperation in these directions extremely important offering
to discussed possibilities of long-term and low-interest credits
in future.

COURT: DEAD MAN WAS WANTED FOR MURDER
Peterborough Evening Telegraph, UK
Oct 13 2005
AN Armenian man found dead in a field near Peterborough was a gangster
wanted for murder in Belgium.
Hovannes Amirian (42) was shot and stabbed before his body was dumped
in Upton and set on fire.
Nishan Bakunts (28), of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, and his father-in-law
Nisha Chatsjatrijan (44), who was living in Holland at the time,
are standing trial at Norwich Crown Court.
Both deny murder.
Jurors heard Mr Amirian was known to be involved in organised crime
in Belgium and was a self-confessed Mafia member.
The court was told Mr Amirian was wanted for questioning about the
murder of a man in Belgium, in 2000.
In evidence on Wednesday, Bakunts’ sister Lucinne Karepetian, said
she had visited Chatsjatrijan in Holland after the victim’s death.
She said Chatsjatrijan told her eight bullets had been fired into Mr
Amirian’s head and he had begged on his knees not to be killed.
The court was told that before his body was taken to the field, he had
been killed in the medical room at the Cooper Roller Bearings Factory
in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, where Mr Bakunts worked as a security officer.
The case was adjourned until Wednesday pending the arrival of an
interpreter.

ARMENIA HEIRS WIN $17M AXA PAYOUT
BBC News, UK
Oct 13 2005
Armenia wants Turkey to admit the killings were “genocide” The
descendants of Armenians who died in mass killings by Ottoman Turks
have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit against French insurance
giant Axa.
The case, filed in California, accused Axa of failing to pay death
benefits on policies bought by Armenians who died.
Under the deal, the firm will pay $17m (£9.7m) to Armenian charitable
groups.
Armenians say 1.5m of their people were killed or deported under
Ottoman Turkish rule in 1915. Turkey denies there was a systematic
massacre.
Under the terms of the settlement, announced in Los Angeles, Axa will
donate at least $3m to selected French-based Armenian charities.
Another $11m has been earmarked for the heirs of policyholders with
subsidiaries of Axa that operated in the Ottoman Turkish Empire
before 1915.
‘Ultimate goal’
In the chaos that followed the killings, many were unable to obtain
their insurance proceeds, lawyers for the claimants said.
The Axa settlement is expected to be approved by California’s
District Court in November. The US state is home to the world’s
largest population of Armenians outside their own country.
Axa has not yet commented on the deal, which will be administered
in France.
The Axa case was the second of its kind to be brought in US courts.
Earlier, New York Life Insurance Company agreed to pay $20m (£11.4m)
to descendants of Armenian policyholders who died in 1915.
Lawyer Mark Geragos said the settlements were “important building
blocks… [towards]our ultimate goal, which is for Turkey and the US
to officially acknowledge the genocide”.
Turkey says up to 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died
during civil strife in eastern Turkey during World War I, but angrily
rejects the allegation of a planned “genocide” of Armenians.
–Boundary_(ID_BmmWnaCRFJRDAL5XU13Lmg)–