Author: Tumanian Talar

POLITICAL PARTIES VIE FOR POPULAR NAMES IN BUREAUCRACY
Ercan Yavuz Ankara

Today’s Zaman, Turkey
March 1 2007

Turkey is focused on the elections scheduled for fall. Combined with
the presidential elections process which will start in April and end
on May 16, the bureaucracy has virtually come to a halt.

As bureaucrats are trying to be in included on the candidate lists of
political parties, the parties are seeking to set up their "A Teams"
recruiting successful bureaucrats. The ruling Justice and Development
Party (AK Party) will attract those bureaucrats who worked with the
AK Party during its 4.5 years of government and who consider those
years successful.

As was the case in previous elections, the primary preference of
bureaucrats will be the ruling AK Party. When the first "A Team"
of successful bureaucrats, set up by Turgut Ozal, was triumphant in
politics, this practice was assumed by other political parties. In the
1995 elections, True Path Party (DYP) Leader Tansu Ciller established
her A Team with Ayfer Yýlmaz, Hayri Kozakcýoðlu, Unal Erkan, Necdet
Menzir, Tekin Enerem, Jefi Kamhi, Gencay Gurun, and other famous
figures.

The AK Party is the front-runner for bureaucrats for the nearing
elections. Many bureaucrats who have dreams of being deputies have
already set to establishing close contacts with the headquarters of
the AK Party. The AK Party currently has 350 seats in the parliament
and it is difficult for the senior management of the party to decide
who will run for parliament in the approaching elections. Relatively
at ease in formulating the candidates lists in the elections of Nov.

3, 2002, the AK Party seems to be finding trouble for the coming
elections. This is because the existing deputies will try to maintain
their places while celebrities and bureaucrats will attempt to figure
out how to replace them. The AK Party management is not eager to see
the re-election of some people who were elected as deputies in 2002.

Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoðan has plans to recruit successful
bureaucrats to replace them and this issue is likely to give him
some headaches.

The most likely bureaucrat to step into the political arena is
Prime Ministry Undersecretary Omer Dincer. Dincer, whose appointment
decree has been repeatedly vetoed by President Ahmet Necdet Sezer,
will be elected as a deputy from his hometown Karaman. Other likely
names to run for the parliamentary elections include Health Ministry
Undersecretary Necdet Unuvar, Education Ministry Undersecretary
Necati Birinci, Sumerbank General Director Sezai Ensari, Public
Works and Settlement Ministry Undersecretary Sabri Erbakan, Savings
Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) Chairman Ahmet Erturk, Culture Ministry
Undersecretary Mustafa Ýsen, Education Ministry Personnel General
Director Remzi Kaya, Foundations General Director Yusuf Beyazýt,
Youth and Sports General Director Mehmet Atalay, State Waterworks
Administration (DSÝ) General Director Veysel Eroðlu, Housing
Development Administration (TOKÝ) Chairman Erdoðan Bayraktar, and
Ziraat Bank General Director Can Akýn Caðlar.

AK Party’s favorite celebrities: Ozhan and Kurtoðlu The AK Party is
also planning to include celebrities in its A Team.

These celebrities include famous singers Ahmet Ozhan and Cengiz
Kurtoðlu. Previously, actor Tamer Yiðit and singer Yasemin Kumral
had become members of the AK Party. They will definitely be nominated
for the nearing elections, sources say.

CHP Leader Deniz Baykal will set up its A Team from people who were
victimized by the ruling AK Party. Professor Dr. Yucel Aþkýn, the
former president of 100 Yýl University in Van, is one person Baykal
is trying to enlist. It was alleged that Education Minister Huseyin
Celik launched an investigation against Aþkýn, who was later arrested
on charges of fraud. The Democratic Left Party’s (DSP) former Finance
Minister Zekeriya Temizel and Chief Inspector Hamza Kacar, who were
removed from office in connection with the recent "mole scandal" in the
Finance Ministry, were also on the CHP’s list of possible candidates.

Baykal is also trying to make his party a magnet for significant
figures of the DSP, including former Finance Minister Zekeriya Temizel,
former Foreign Minister Þukru Sina Gurel and former Education Minister
Necdet Tekin. Turkish Pipeline Company (BOTAÞ) General Director Necdet
Pamir, regarded as a prominent figure in energy issues in Turkey,
will be transferred by the CHP. From the military bureaucracy, the
CHP is planning to recruit retired Lt. Gen.

Erdoðan Karakuþ, the former commander of the Office of the Chief
of General Staff Military Historical and Strategic Studies Center
(ATESE), who unearthed important documents and evidence against the
Armenian genocide claims.

Derviþ Gunday, the Chairman of Turkish Confederation of Trade Unions
of Artisans, who frequently made polemics with the government, will
be nominated for parliament by the CHP. Former Higher Education
Board (YOK) President Kemal Guruz, who was previously claimed to
be supporting the Motherland Party (ANAVATAN), is very likely to be
included in CHP A Team. Actress Þehnaz Cakýralp will definitely be
nominated by the CHP for parliament in the nearing elections, sources
say. In a television series depicting the period of the Democratic
Party (DP), considered as the pioneer of the Turkish center-right,
Cakýralp played the role of DP deputy’s mistress.

CHP Leader Baykal had managed to attract former World Bank Deputy
President Kemal Derviþ, Ambassador Ýnal Batu, professor of theology
Yaþar Nuri Ozturk, singer Zulfu Livaneli and Berhan Þimþek for the
parliamentary elections of Nov. 3, 2002, but failed to keep them in
the party. Except for Berhan Þimþek, all became opponents of Baykal.

Tatlýses goes independent, Ulusoy favorite for all parties Football
Federation President Haluk Ulusoy, who drew attention with the polemics
he made on the government and especially with State Minister for Sports
Mehmet Ali Þahin, is also readying himself for the elections. The
CHP and the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) are in a tug-of-war for
Ulusoy. In the face of Minister Mehmet Ali Þahin’s allegations of
fraud, Ulusoy is expected to make his choice for the MHP and become a
deputy for Trabzon. The MHP is also considering nominating Ambassador
Deniz Bolukbaþý for the parliament.

Bolukbaþý was in the spotlight during the negotiations with the US in
connection with the American request to stage part of the invasion
of Iraq in 2003 from Turkey and sources say that he may enter the
political arena on the insistence of the MHP.

Another celebrity who has plans for politics is famous singer
Ýbrahim Tatlýses. Tatlýses, who is on trial in connection with the
"Sauna Gang" probe and who may be sentenced to up to six months in
prison, announced that he would run as an independent for his hometown
Þanlýurfa. The past of Turkish politics is rife with cases of people
accused of important offenses who try to acquire immunity by becoming
parliamentary deputies.

–Boundary_(ID_u+cJrUAwTVfV7lKUTXVzYQ)- –

ARMENIA – INTERVIEW WITH HAYKO
Luke Fisher reporting from Kent (United Kingdom)

oikotimes.com, Greece
March 1 2007

Hayko is one of the best known male artists in Armenia, and now has
the honour of representing his country for only their second ever
participation at the Eurovision Song Contest. Here’s what he had to
say to oikotimes.com:

Hayko- first of all, congratulations on winning the Armenian national
final. How does it feel to know that you are the official Armenia
representative for Eurovision this year?

Thank you. Well it is a great responsibility, which I realise stronger
day after day.

When did you think about entering the national final for Eurovision?

I have written 7 songs for the National Selection, but this one was
chosen by jury and also the team I work with throughout the years. My
friends forecast that "Anytime You Need" is going to be the best one
during the selection.

What was the process you had to go through?

Actually the melody has been in my mind for a long time as I worked
at the soundtrack to the film "Don’t Be Afraid" produced by Public
TV of Armenia. The main theme of the soundtrack slightly turned into
a new melody and I couldn’t help writing it on the paper.

About your career, when did you get into singing?

Everything started from the music school, them musical college, than
State Conservatoire after Komitas. My public performances commenced
in the State Music Theatre in 1996.

You’ve won many awards in Armenia, (apart from Eurovision) which is
the one that means the most to you?

I appreciate the decision to award me every time I win something. I
appreciate every kind word of my fans because they support me and
the best award ever won is public love.

You also co-wrote your song "Anytime you need". What inspired you to
write it, and was it written with Eurovision in mind?

I am thankfull to Karen Kavaleryan, who was very kind to write touching
and at the same time very comprehensible lyrics to my song.

I kept in my mind the only thing – ESC is unpredictable and I need
to present something which is full of my own emotions.

Was entering Eurovision something you’d always wanted to do?

I am happy for my country to be represented during the contest, and
I feel the greatest responcibility for the people who believe in me.

Actually the chance is given and nobody should lose it.

Are you a fan of the contest? If yes, what is your favourite ever
entry?

I’ve been watching the ESC even before we could officially be
represented there and I must admit it’s something to enjoy first of
all. I can’t recall my favourite entry right now, it’s difficult.

Last year, Andre not only qualified to the final, but finished high
enough to mean that you are already in the final- do you worry that
you have high standards to fulfil this year?

This is what I mean when I’m saying about the responsibility that
I have!

Will you make any changes to your song before Helsinki?

Probably I will make some technical rearrangements before making
the CD-single.

What are you looking forward to most about Eurovision & Helsinki?

Feel the rhythm of Eurovision 😉 This time in Helsinki!

As you prepare to go on stage, what do you think will be running
through your mind?

You are too curious! You’ll see it during the rehearsals.

What do you think your song will offer to the Eurovision audience?

Love and love again.

And finally, is there anything you’d like to say to the Eurovision
fans reading this?

I wish all the best to the readers and fans of ESC. Hopefully you
will like the show I am going to present in Helsinki. My love to you
"Anytime You Need"!

The best of luck to Hayko at Eurovision 2007, and special thanks to
Diana Mnatsakanyan of AMPTV.

=8281

NON-FOOD COMMODITY PRICES DECLINE BY 0.3% IN ARMENIA IN FEBRUARY

Noyan Tapan
Mar 01 2007

YEREVAN, MARCH 1, NOYAN TAPAN. A 0.3% price fall was registered in
the Armenian non-food commodity market in February 2007, which is
mainly conditioned by 0.7-2.2% fall in prices of cultural goods,
jewelry, gasoline abd diesel fuel.

According to the RA National Statiatical Service, prices of detergents
declined by 0.1% in February, while prices of carpets, cosmetics,
building materials, textiles, horticultural items, domestic electric
appliances, footwear, clothing, medicines and furniture grew by
0.1-0.4% in February. Prices in the other commodity groups remained
at the previous month’s level.

IN LONDON CHURCH, MEMORIALS FOR WORLD’S JOURNALISTS KILLED ON JOB
by Lachlan Carmichael

Agence France Presse — English
February 28, 2007 Wednesday 8:26 AM GMT

In a tranquil church just yards from the London hubbub, lie tributes
to journalists killed as far afield as Vietnam, Somalia, the Balkans,
Afghanistan and Iraq.

Welcome to the "journalists’ altar" at St Bride’s Church, just off
Fleet Street — for generations synonymous with the mighty British
press.

Their names are engraved on the church’s wood panelling, penned on
their photographs or written on cards stacked at what began as the
"hostage altar" 20 years ago when journalists were being abducted
in Lebanon.

One card is from a widow who in January marked a 30th wedding
anniversary that did not take place because her husband was killed in
Iraq. A single red rose lies beside the card and her husband’s photo.

"For members of the media, whatever their faith background, this is
their spiritual home. We will do whatever we can for them in difficulty
and crisis," said Canon David Meara, the church’s rector.

The church, which has been a sanctuary for journalists and printers
for centuries, overcame hardship itself after a World War II bomb
destroyed all but the steeple and outer walls.

It was rebuilt with key funds from the newspaper industry.

The wife of CBS news cameraman Paul Anthony Douglas who was killed
in Iraq last year finds comfort in a place that is "dedicated to
journalists who have lost their lives" and lets her leave tributes
like the anniversary card.

Although there is a church by her home in Bedford, Linda Douglas
often makes the 50-mile train trip south to London to visit the church.

"It’s a strange thing because I’m not religious. But over the last
month I’ve really been drawn back to St. Bride’s… I feel actually
he’s around in that church," Douglas said.

"It’s quite poignant in there when you go to that altar and you see
all those faces who were just doing their jobs," she said.

"It’s a lovely church," she added.

It has marble floors and retains the distinct white stone
"wedding-cake" steeple from the design by Sir Christopher Wren which
was built after the Great Fire of 1666 destroyed the sixth church on
the site.

The current one is just a few minutes walk from Wren’s masterpiece,
St. Paul’s Cathedral, and is the eighth to have been built on the
site. The first was founded in the sixth century, possibly by St.

Bride, or Bridget of Kildare.

Difficult to notice, St Bride’s is tucked away in a close just
off Fleet Street, once the heart and soul of the British newspaper
industry that began in 18th century in a neighborhood already long
known as a printing centre.

And although Britain’s leading newspapers have relocated to other
points in London, St Bride’s verger David Smith said the church’s
"links with the news business are just as strong as ever."

Among the more prosaic but landmark events in life, journalists
and their families still make the trip to the church for weddings,
baptisms and funerals as well as regular Sunday worship.

The church stands apart from others because, Meara said, it is both
tied to a specific profession and offers solace to families, friends
and colleagues of those who are killed, wounded or imprisoned doing
their job.

"It brings home to you what a violent world we live and how vulnerable
journalists are," according to Meara, summing up reactions from
international visitors to the place of worship.

Amid the stacks of cards at the altar, there is a copy of a statement
from the Paris-based World Association of Newspapers (WAN) sounding
an alarm at the growing numbers of journalists being killed.

"Journalism today is more dangerous than ever, more than 500
journalists have been killed in the past decade, often for simply
doing their jobs," according to WAN’s Timothy Balding.

"These murders are a direct attack not only on individuals but
on society as a whole. Yet few of the killers are ever brought to
justice," his statement read.

Though journalists have long been caught in the cross-fire, it was
rare for them to be hunted down, Meara said. "Now that seems to have
changed. Journalists now seem to be targeted."

Some of the journalists remembered here were indeed targeted, such as
Russian Anna Politkovskaya, murdered in Moscow in October last year,
and Hrant Dink, the ethnic Armenian who was slain in Istanbul on
January 19 this year.

They also include American Daniel Pearl, who was beheaded after he was
kidnapped on January 23, 2002 by Islamist extremists while reporting
in Pakistan.

Members of Pearl’s family, who are Jewish, later the same year attended
a memorial service for him at St. Bride’s held by Meara and Mark Winer,
the rabbi at the West London Synagogue of British Jews.

In a happier event, journalist John McCarthy and Anglican clergyman
Terry Waite attended a thanskgiving service here after their kidnappers
in Lebanon freed them in 1991.

"It will always have that special place in my memory," said Jill
Morrell, who campaigned for the release of McCarthy who was her
boyfriend at the time.

"It was difficult at that time to get people to be interested in that
(hostage) issue and to believe that they were still alive. St.

Bride’s was one place where they did both — the only place really."

RUMORS ABOUT NOMINATION OF ARTUR AGABEKYAN FOR NKR PRESIDENCY ARE NOT TRUE

Arminfo
2007-02-28 19:01:00

The rumors that ex Deputy DM of Armenia, ARFD member Artur Agabekyan
will be nominated for Nagorno-Karabakh presidency are not true,
says the vice speaker of the Armenian parliament, ARFD member Vahan
Hovhannissyan.

ARFD has never had such goals. Agabekyan will certainly be on the
party’s electoral ticket after Hovhannissyan and the chairman of the
parliamentary commission on foreign affairs Armen Rustamyan.

To note, a few days ago ARFD members met with Armenian President Robert
Kocharyan and Nagorno-Karabakh President Arkady Ghoukassyan. The
official sources say that the sides discussed the Karabakh problems
but rumors say that the key topic was Agabekyan’s nomination for the
post of Armenian Defence Minister.

POLAND READY TO SHARE EXPERIENCE WITH ARMENIA

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2007 14:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Talks with Polish Foreign Minister Anna Fotyga were
constructive, Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian told news conference in
Yerevan. He reminded that February 26 diplomatic relations between the
two states will count 15 years. "We have discussed bilateral political
and strategic cooperation, energy issues as well as economic relations
in the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy. We also touched
upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and the Armenian side
briefed to the Polish Foreign Minister on the negotiation process,"
Oskanian said. Special attention was paid to participation of Armenian
peacekeepers within a Polish battalion in Iraq, he added.

For her part Anna Fotyga said Poland is ready to assist Armenia in
the framework of the European Neighborhood Policy. "I am glad to be
in Armenia on the day marking the 15th anniversary of establishment
of diplomatic relations between our states. We have mastered the way
to the European Union and we are ready to share our experience with
Armenia. A memorandum on cooperation was signed in Yerevan.

Contacts should be established at various levels, including public,
economic and cultural ties," the Polish FM said.

ARMENIA’S PRIORITIES WITHIN NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY TO BE SUBMITTED TO EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN MARCH

PanARMENIAN.Net
26.02.2007 17:33 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Armenia is completing the process of determination
of priorities of the 2007-2008 Action Plan in the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy, RA Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian
told a news conference today. The document will be submitted to the
European Commission’s consideration in mid March, he said adding
that elaboration of priority directions is the initial stage of
Armenia’s integration into European structures. The second stage
will include the search for common fields of cooperation with the
EU member states. Minister Oskanian said that the elements of the
Action Plan meant for implementation in a bilateral format are also
being discussed with the EU member states.

AMERICAN BUSINESSMEN URGED GEORGE BUSH NOT TO RECOGNIZE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

Arminfo
2007-02-26 11:41:00

A hundred leading American businessmen have sent a letter to the US
President George Bush urging not to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

As the Turkish Daily News reports, the letter underlines that the
"recognition of the Genocide may become a disaster for the United
States". The message notes that "in case of the Armenian Genocide
recognition, the USA-Turkey commercial relations will suffer much". In
view of this, the businessmen consider a possibility of recognizing
the Armenian Genocide dangerous. Moreover, the businessmen are sure
that the Genocide recognition may become an obstacle for reconciliation
between Armenia and Turkey.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Diaspora must be a support for Armenia on difficult way of development
24.02.2007 15:27 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Over 180 Armenian students from 67 universities
across the United States and Canada convened at Columbia University on
February 3rd and 4th to define their role in the development of
Armenia. This summit of Armenian students, titled ‘Armenia’s
Development: The Students’ Role’ was organized by the Armenian Club of
Columbia University and Advocates for Armenia group. It was sponsored
by the Armenian Center at Columbia University and Armenian General
Benevolent Union. Representatives of `Advocates For Armenia’ told the
PanARMENIAN.Net correspondent that the purpose of this event was to
empower young Armenians to effect positive changes in Armenia
today. The two-day meeting featured presentations by prominent figures
in the developing fields of business, information technology, health,
law, and education. These presentations were followed by intense
working sessions during which student participants worked with one
another and experts to formulate innovative ideas for specific,
small-scale projects to be implemented in Armenia within the next two
years. At the conclusion of the summit, the students had combined
their innovative ideas with the knowledge and expertise of the guest
experts to produce seven highly promising projects proposals.
Advocates for Armenia has committed to aiding in the implementation of
these projects primarily through the coordination of partnerships with
groups in Armenia and funding organizations in the Diaspora.

Levon Bagramian, chair of the summit’s organizing committee, reflected
on what the future has in store. `With this summit we began turning
the attention of the Diasporan student body to Armenia’s development
challenges. We have much more to do. If Armenia is to become a
prosperous, democratic country that is home to all Armenians, then we
in the Diaspora have plenty more to do to help her to get to that
stage quicker. Expect more from us on the difficult way of
development,’ Bagramian stated.

US strike against Iran would be damaging to Azerbaijan – analyst

Day.az website, Baku
22 Feb 07

Azerbaijan is opposed to resolving the crisis in the Persian Gulf by
military means as the consequences of a nuclear strike against Iran
would be "very negative" for the country, an Azerbaijani political
analyst believes. He said Azerbaijan sets a high value on its
relations with the US but it cannot ignore the fact that it is Iran’s
neighbour, although he does not believe that Iran would retaliate
against Azerbaijan if the US attacked. The following is the text of
report by Azerbaijani website Day.az on 22 February headlined "Rasim
Musabayov: ‘If the situation gets to crisis point and there is a
nuclear strike against Iran, the consequences for Azerbaijan will be
the most negative ones’". Subheadings have been inserted editorially:

[Correspondent] Rasim muallim [mode of address], how likely is the
reopening of hostilities in the Persian Gulf?

US "unlikely" to strike against Iran

[Musabayov] It’s difficult to give a simple answer to that
question. At the present moment, two groups of aircraft carriers and a
lot of US troops are concentrated in the Gulf and this clearly shows
that Washington is seriously contemplating a military scenario. But I
don’t think it’s likely that these plans will be carried out
immediately. Mainly because the Bush administration is rather
vulnerable just now. There is a Democrat majority in Congress which is
opposed to the current administration’s military plans. There is no
international support, not even limited support, for a military strike
against Iran, rather like in the US during the invasion of Iraq. With
all their self-confidence, the Americans do not like taking all the
risks of a military scenario upon themselves, and are unlikely to do
so.

[Correspondent] Then what is the point of the US spending huge sums on
keeping their troops in the Gulf?

[Musabayov] You have to realize that virtually the whole world does
not want Iran’s [nuclear] programme to make headway, and there are
various methods of putting pressure on Iran to stop them doing so. On
the one hand, talks are underway and it is the European countries who
are playing the main role here. The so-called European trio Germany,
France and Britain are making challenging proposals to Iran. But in
this instance the US is performing the function of a poor
policeman. In other words, the US personifies the inevitability of
punishment if Iran oversteps the mark in its nuclear programme.

[Correspondent] Is the suspension of work by Russian specialists at
the Bushehr nuclear power station linked with a possible start of
hostilities?

[Musabayov] I don’t rule that out, but I believe that this is possibly
Moscow’s pressure on Iran to get them to agree to the demands of the
international community. I would like to make the point that Russia
has no wish for Iran to get into the nuclear powers club by the back
door.

[Correspondent] What could be the possible consequences for Azerbaijan
in the event of a military conflict between the US and Iran?

Azerbaijan against military solution to Iran crisis

[Musabayov] Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. Despite what
some of the media are saying, I don’t think this is a question of
weeks or months. The Iranians will have to wait several years before
they have the bomb. But if the situation gets to crisis point and
there is a nuclear strike against Iran, then the consequences for
Azerbaijan could be the most negative ones. The bombing of thousands
of targets (military and industrial, including oil refineries, and so
on) could be accompanied by the release of toxic substances into the
atmosphere which would be brought here on air currents, we would lose
contact with Naxcivan, which is effected through Iran, and we would
incur substantial economic losses.

All this, not to mention the humanitarian disaster, refugees, and so
on, explains why Azerbaijani society and the authorities are very
apprehensive and do not approve of a military scenario for resolving
the Iranian nuclear crisis. A clash between Iran and the US could
place Azerbaijan in a difficult position from the political point of
view. Azerbaijan sets a high value on its relations with the US, but
we cannot ignore the fact that we are Iran’s neighbours. And, of
course, we cannot forget the 25-30 million of our fellow-countrymen
living in that country who could also suffer from such hostilities.

[Correspondent] The Iranian authorities have stated more than once
that in the event of a strike against their country they would strike
at American targets in other countries. Doesn’t this mean that
Azerbaijan could also be a target for Iranian missiles?

No benefit to Iran to strike against Azerbaijan

[Musabayov] I don’t think Tehran will decide to do that. This could
rebound on Iran. Azerbaijan will not be left without outside support
which will be offered, I am sure, not only by the US, but especially
Turkey and even Russia. Any peremptory aggression by Iran against
Azerbaijan would be met with a rebuff and would not bring any benefit
to Tehran. But there may be covert activities by Iran such as bringing
more secret agents into our country, and I believe that the
appropriate bodies here are monitoring the situation and if necessary
will take the necessary steps and preventive measures.

[Correspondent] The Western press is saying that the US has already
deployed three military bases in Azerbaijan. How true is this?

[Musabayov] It is hard for me to say. If you mean the two new radar
stations, yes, they were built with American technical
assistance. Clearly, if the US helped to set up these facilities then
they have some access to information obtained through the assistance
of these stations. But in any case, these stations are of a local,
technical nature and are helping Azerbaijan to strengthen its control
over our own air, sea and land borders. A military aerodrome and
certain naval forces are being brought up-to-date with US aid. But I
repeat that all this is of a defensive nature. No-one can use
Azerbaijan’s military infrastructure without our consent, and official
Baku states that it has no intention of giving such consent, and it
even considers sanctions to be unproductive.

But all this is for the present. If things deteriorated, in other
words, hostilities against Iran began, then much will depend on the
pressure which Washington puts on the Azerbaijani authorities and what
positions are taken up by Turkey, Russia and the European powers. But
let us not jump the gun, although we must be prepared for any
scenario, including those which affect ourselves.