Author: Toganian Liana

SOAD Lead Singer Welcomes Blocking Hoagland Confirmation

PanARMENIAN.Net
06.10.2006 17:50 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Serj Tankian, lead singer for the Grammy
Award-winning band System of a Down, has welcomed the "hold" placed
by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) on the confirmation of Richard
Hoagland as U.S.

Ambassador to Armenia until the Bush Administration ends its denial
of the Armenian Genocide, Armenian National Committee of America
reported. "His principled stand represents a powerful contribution
to the worldwide effort to end the denial of justice for this crime,
and break forever the worldwide cycle of genocide," said Serj Tankian.

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) placed a "hold" on the confirmation
of Richard E. Hoagland as the next U.S.

Ambassador to Armenia. In blocking the Hoagland nomination,
Sen. Menendez stressed that, "as a leader and defender of democracy,
it is our nation’s responsibility to speak out against injustice and
support equality and human rights. But if the Bush Administration
continues to refuse to acknowledge the atrocities of the Armenian
Genocide, then there is certainly cause for great alarm, which is
why I am placing a hold on this nominee."

Agency WPS
DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)
October 6, 2006 Friday

AZERBAIJAN WILL REMAIN AT THE NEGOTIATION TABLE

by Sohbet Mamedov

OSCE MEDIATORS CONVINCED BAKU OF THE NECESSITY TO CONTINUE CONTACTS
WITH YEREVAN; Azerbaijani-Armenian contacts will continue.

President Ilham Aliyev’s consent to continue contacts with Armenia
became the principal result of the latest round of negotiations
between chairmen of the OSCE Minsk Group and Azerbaijani leaders in
Baku.

Russian, American, and French diplomats elicited from official Baku
an agreement to organize a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers. Yuri Merzlyakov, Russian Chairman of the OSCE
Minsk Group, said at the press conference that "renewal of direct
contacts over the Nagorno-Karabakh resolution was the subject of the
negotiations in Baku. We consider the mission accomplished."
According to the Russian diplomat, after similar consultations with
the Armenian leadership the involved parties will be able to discuss
the place and the time of a meeting between Azerbaijani and Armenian
foreign ministers and of a summit after that. A source in the
Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry claims that meetings like that may
already take place in late October.

Bernard Faciet of France acknowledged that the international
mediators would find organization of new meetings difficult because
their respective capitals "do not put up with a military solution to
the problem." Matthew Bryza of the United States said that GUAM’s
recent initiative to have the problem of suspended conflicts
discussed by the UN "might have a positive effect on the process of
Karabakh resolution."

Under pressure from enemies of negotiations with Armenia, Aliyev
addressed the first meeting of the autumn session of the Milli Mejlis
or national parliament. He said that not everything of what
international mediators were suggesting was acceptable for
Azerbaijan, the country that had lost 20% of its territory to
Armenia. "We are condemned for the alleged lack of interest in
finding a solution to the Karabakh problem. They say we are not
solving it. We are not solving it because what options of resolution
are offered do not answer national interests of Azerbaijan. Whatever
pressure may be applied, I will never sign any such document," Aliyev
said.

Source: Nezavisimaya Gazeta, October 4, 2006, p. 5

Translated by A. Ignatkin

Nederlandse partijen schrappen kandidaten die Armeense genocide niet erkennen

Het Nieuwsblad, Netherland
October 6, 2006

De Turkse gemeenschap in Nederland reageert ontgoocheld nu drie
politici van de kieslijsten zijn gehaald van de sociaal-democratische
PvdA en de christen-democratische CDA omdat ze weigeren de Armeense
genocide te erkennen. De Nederlandse Tweede Kamer had in december
2004 een motie goedgekeurd waarin ze de genocide erkende en erop
aandrong de zaak te berde te brengen tijdens de onderhandelingen
over de Turkse toetreding tot de Europese Unie. Erdinc Sacan (PvdA),
Ayhan Tonca en Osman Elmaci (beiden CDA) lieten daarop weten dat ze
niet erkennen dat het Ottomaanse rijk zich in 1915 schuldig maakte
aan genocide op de Armeniers. Ze werden daarop door hun partijen van
de kieslijsten gehaald. (bar)

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
—————————————— —-
PRESS AND INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
Government House # 2, Republic Square
Yerevan 0010, Republic of Armenia
Telephone: +37410. 544041 ext 202
Fax: +37410. 562543
Email: [email protected]

PRESS RELEASE

06-10-2006

Minister Oskanian’s Meetings in Moscow

Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanian today participated in
consultations with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, under the
auspices of the Minsk Group co-chairs, in Moscow. In a day-long
meeting at the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ministers assessed
the current situation, identified the problematic issues still in
dispute, and heard the co-chairs’ ideas as to how to overcome those
differences. Minister Oskanian said the Armenian side has taken note
of the discussion, which he characterized as food for thought and said
they would receive serious consideration prior to the next meeting
before the end of the month.

In the margins of the Minsk Group meeting, Russian Minister of Foreign
Affairs Sergei Lavrov received Minister Oskanian. The bilateral
meeting between the two ministers began with a discussion on the
negotiations and the situation surrounding Nagorno Karabakh. They
also discussed recent developments in the South Caucasus and possible
outcomes. Minister Oskanian and Minister Lavrov also explored other
bilateral issues.

STRATFOR: "NK CONFLICT NOT TO BE SOLVED THIS YEAR"

Today, Azerbaijan
Oct 5 2006

"Nagorno Karabakh conflict will not be solved this year despite
resumption of negotiations," said in Stratfor research center report.

As APA informs, Stratfor analysts think though Azerbaijan tries to
strengthen the army by increasing military expenditures, it failed.

Azerbaijan will have another income source in the last quarter of
2006 besides BTC main oil export pipeline.

Pipeline to deliver Caspian gas to European market is expected to
come on line in December which will further strengthen Azerbaijan
financially.

URL:

UNFAVORABLE WEATHER CONDITIONS PREVENTED THE OSCE MG CO-CHAIRS’ VISIT TO STEPANAKERT

Public Radio of Armenia
Oct 5 2006

The OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs did not visit Stepanakert because of
unfavorable weather conditions.

ArmInfo correspondent reports from Stepanakert that the US, French
and Russian Co-Chairs had to arrive in Nagorno Karabakh October 4,
but the visit was hindered because of thick fog. The mediators were
due to meet with Arkady Ghukasyan.

The Co-Chairs have already left Yerevan for Moscow, where the Foreign
Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan Vardan Oskanian and Elmar
Mammadyarov are scheduled to meet on October 6. Today RA Foreign
Minister will leave for Moscow.

DUTCH TURKS COULD BOYCOTT ELECTIONS OVER ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ROW

Agence France Presse — English
October 5, 2006 Thursday 1:02 PM GMT

Turkish groups in the Netherlands expressed concern Thursday that
voters of Turkish origin will boycott elections after candidates
for parliament were bumped off the electoral lists after refusing to
acknowledge the Armenian genocide.

Last week the Netherlands’ two biggest political parties, the ruling
Christian Democrat CDA and the opposition PvdA labour party, scrapped
three prospective MP’s of Turkish origin from their list of candidates
for the November 22 elections because they would not recognize the
World War I massacre of Armenians as a genocide.

"We have heard from every side that voters of Turkish origin are
disappointed and do not understand, and we fear this could have
consequences for the participation of the Turkish community in Dutch
politics," said Ahmet Azdural of IOT, an umbrella group representing
some 300 local Turkish organisations in the Netherlands.

"We have called on all organisations and bodies together, with national
and local politicians of Turkish origin, to meet Sunday in Capelle
aan den IJssel (near Rotterdam) to agree on a course of action,"
Azdural told AFP.

"It is very difficult to force candidates of Turkish origin to choose
sides in what is a historic debate. This gives the impression that
there is no freedom of speech in the major political parties,"
Azdural told AFP.

There are 235,000 voters of Turkish origin in the Netherlands,
corresponding in terms of population to some three seats in the 150
seat parliament.

Statistically the Turkish community in the Netherlands votes in higher
numbers than other immigrant communities and they traditionally favour
the PvdA labour party.

Armenians claim up to 1.5 million of their kin were slaughtered in
orchestrated killings between 1915 and 1917 and want the massacres
to be internationally recognized as genocide.

Turkey argues that 300,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in
civil strife when Armenians took up arms for independence in eastern
Anatolia and sided with Russian troops invading the crumbling Ottoman
Empire, the predecessor of modern Turkey.

ARMENIAN ARMY PERFORMS MAIN TASK

PanARMENIAN.Net
05.10.2006 13:51 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The most important task of the Armenian Armed
Forces is to prevent any violation of the ceasefire established in
1994, military expert Ruben Meghrabyan stated in an interview with
PanARMENIAN.Net. In his words, the Azeri Armed Forces have the same
task, added to rearmament, multiplication of military potential in
an aspiration to change the status quo in their favor with a final
purpose to restore the territorial integrity so much spoken about
by the military and political leadership of the neighbor state. "I
will not reveal a secret by saying that the Armenian army performs
its main task while the Azeri side confines to the first part only.

The fact is that over 12 years the ceasefire is maintained without
any dividing force. Parity has been established and the Armenian
side is not interested in change of military-geographical and
military-political status quo in the Nagorno Karabakh conflict zone
while the Azeri side doesn’t possess sufficient power to change the
status quo unfavorable for it," he said.

Ruben Meghrabyan remarked that these are two mini-soviet armies. "Here
function the same soviet general regulations and laws, the same closed
regime ruling out any civil control. The same huge expenses and absence
of reserve training. As a matter of fact these two armies are "deeply
soviet" and are efficient to the extent their soviet prototype was,"
Meghrabyan said.

WILL THE USA RECOGNIZE THE INDEPENDENCE OF NKR?

A1+
[03:49 pm] 04 October, 2006

Washington, DC – To mark the 15th Anniversary of Artsakh’s
Independence, Members of Congress joined the Co-Chairs of the
Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues, Joe Knollenberg (R-MI)
and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), in sending a letter to President Bush
urging him "to recognize the 15th anniversary of the independence of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic [Artsakh]" and calling the President’s
attention to Artsakh’s "efforts in furthering their democracy and
creating an independent state."

Nagorno Karabakh’s decision to establish a sovereign state came as a
continuation of the national liberation movement that began immediately
after Joseph Stalin awarded administrative control over Karabakh
to Soviet Azerbaijan in 1921. After suffering from over 70 years of
discrimination and oppression by Azerbaijan and the Soviet regime, the
people of Artsakh stepped up their struggle for freedom and democracy
by establishing the independent Nagorno Karabakh Republic, Artsakh.

The congressional letter, signed by 77 members and sent to the White
House on September 29, highlights a long history of U.S support to
Nagorno Karabakh and the will of the people of Artsakh to build a
democratic and economically viable country. The letter also notes
the continuation of Azerbaijan’s destructive policy, which
threatens peace and stability in the region and "goes against
U.S. interests." Most importantly, the congressional letter advocates
for expansion of U.S. political and economic engagement with Nagorno
Karabakh.

The letter said in part: "As we work towards peace, the United
States can and must expand its engagement with the lawfully and
democratically established Nagorno Karabakh Republic. These ties
should not be dictated by outside forces but rather should be guided
by the shared values of our two nations. […] We should build on this
success by investing in developmental and good governance programs that
will strengthen Nagorno-Karabakh’s economy, democratic institutions,
and promote even greater cooperation on a range of regional and
security issues." (The full text of the letter is provided at the
end of the release.)

Despite the overwhelming challenges of the past 15 years, Artsakh has
registered impressive achievements: successful defense of its freedom
against Azerbaijani military aggression, nearly complete restoration of
its war-devastated economy, continued strengthening of its democracy,
unprecedented economic growth and constructive partnership with the
international community to bring about lasting peace and stability
to the South Caucasus.

"Everyday, we are advancing in building a country of our dreams – a
free, democratic and prosperous Artsakh. Fifteen years of independent
statehood have proved the righteousness of the historic path chosen
on September 2, 1991. Throughout these years, the people of Artsakh
have been truly blessed to enjoy the political and economic support
of the U.S. Congress.

We are deeply thankful to the American people for their generous
economic assistance that helped restore dozens of war-torn
villages, drinking water supplies and medical facilities," said NKR
Representative in the United States Vardan Barseghian.

Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-MI), who co-chairs the Armenian Caucus,
said: "The United States stands for freedom and democracy, values
that have vividly triumphed in Nagorno Karabakh, Artsakh, without
any international support. I am proud to support this nation as it
works to achieve formal international recognition of its well-deserved
independence. The U.S. economic assistance to Nagorno Karabakh should
be continued."

"Time and again, the people of Nagorno Karabakh have demonstrated
their firm commitment to values of liberty and peace. They have
also worked hard to establish a developing democracy and growing
market economy. The United States should expand its political and
economic engagement with the Nagorno Karabakh Republic," echoed fellow
Armenian Caucus Co-chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ). Congressmen
Knollenberg and Pallone also thanked their colleagues, the co-signers
of this congressional letter to President Bush, for supporting this
critical initiative. "In its quest for freedom and its efforts to
strengthen its democracy and develop its economy, Nagorno Karabakh
enjoys a broad-based congressional support. Our collective aim was to
convey this message to President Bush as the Nagorno Karabakh Republic
celebrates the 15th Anniversary of Independence," the congressmen said.

This congressional effort enjoyed strong support of the two
Armenian-American advocacy groups in Washington, DC.

"The Armenian Assembly commends Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone
for their initiative and leadership in urging the U.S. to strengthen
relations with Karabakh as it celebrates 15 years of independence,"
said Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. "As we mark this
special occasion, we are reminded of the accomplishments the people
of Karabakh have already achieved. The Assembly will continue to work
with its friends in Congress and the Administration to advocate for
Karabakh’s right to self-determination."

"We want to thank Congressmen Knollenberg and Pallone and all those
who joined with the Armenian Caucus in marking this milestone of the
Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s continued contribution to the growth of
democracy, economic development, and the prospects for an equitable
and lasting peace in the Caucasus," said ANCA Executive Director
Aram Hamparian.

On behalf of the NKR Government, Barseghian thanked the Armenian
Assembly of America and the Armenian National Committee of America
for their effective work on Capitol Hill.

"We are also grateful to our congressional friends for their continued
support of Nagorno Karabakh on our path towards freedom, democracy
and prosperity — universal values that have been guiding Artsakh
since independence," said Representative Barseghian.

The Office of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in the United States is
based in Washington, DC and works with the U.S. government, academia
and the public representing the official policies and interests of
the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

PARLIAMENT CHAIRMAN QUESTIONS ANTI-CRIMINAL MOVEMENT’S VITALITY

Armenpress
Oct 03 2006

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 3, ARMENPRESS; Before flying to Strasbourg for
a regular session of the PACE Armenian parliament chairman Tigran
Torosian questioned yesterday the vitality of an anti-criminal movement
launched by the opposition to fight, as they say, against the growing
role of criminal elements in Armenian politics and government.

Torosian said the movement’s approaches are absolutely unacceptable. He
said fighting criminals is very simple.

"If there are people who know about criminal acts they must go and
report to police and press for these criminals punishment, everything
else beyond is political speculation," he said.