Author: Tvankchian Parkev

Armenian defence minister praises Karabakh military drills

Arminfo, Yerevan
19 Apr 06

Stepanakert ,19 April: “We have repeatedly said and will continue
to say till the settlement of the Nagornyy Karabakh conflict that
Armenia is the guarantor of Nagornyy Karabakh’s security,” Armenian
Defence Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, who is taking part as an observer
in a combined exercise in Nagornyy Karabakh, has told an Arminfo
special correspondent in Stepanakert.

He rated highly the military exercise and noted that it was held in
conditions very close to the war-time conditions and that it differed
from a true battle only by the fact that “ammunition was used 10 times
less”. He also noted that he considered as inappropriate “the fuss
kicked up by Azerbaijan over the exercise held in Nagornyy Karabakh”.

“Should we also be indignant that they held a military exercise just
50-60 km away from here two weeks ago? This is a normal military
process, which means that the army life continues. Irrespective of
the fact that we have always been for the peaceful settlement of the
problem, our army should constantly improve,” Serzh Sarkisyan stressed.

Asked about whether Nagornyy Karabakh should be involved in the
negotiating process, the minister said: “Certainly, Nagornyy Karabakh’s
participation in the talks is desirable, but I do not consider that
the format of the negotiations will be changed in the near future.”

Serzh Sarkisyan said that by making unacceptable proposals Azerbaijan
“is attempting to snatch more for itself”. “If each side continues
to try and snatch openly more for itself, we will hardly be able to
reach an agreement,” the defence minister noted.

Assessing the situation on the contact line of the armed forces, Serzh
Sarkisyan said: “We never violate the cease-fire, we just respond
to hush the fire.” Serzh Sarkisyan believes the domestic political
situation in Armenia is normal. The political processes in Armenia
are going on normally, which has a favourable impact on the process
of the Karabakh settlement, he said.

US GOVERNMENT CONSIDER CONSTRUCTION OF NEW NUCLEAR PLANT IN ARMENIA – ARMENIAN MINISTRY OF EXTERIOR
Author: Z.Ibrahimli

TREND Information, Azerbaijan
April 19 2006

Vardan Oskanyan, Minister of Exterior of Armenia, reportedly said
‘today Americans are almost eager to build a new nuclear plant in
Armenia’. Trend reports with reference to Mediamaz agency, in his
interview published today in Armenian Aykakan Zhamanak Oskanyan said
‘there was a time when they (Americans) didn’t even want to hear of
it.’ ‘The USA is concerned in this issue, the US government discusses
it and, I suggest, we have a chance to replace our old nuclear plant
with a new one’, – Armenian diplomat said.

“As far as I know, the USA are going to solve regional problems through
constructing this new plant and thus are seriously thinking it over”,
– Oskanyan added.

DUMA DELEGATION OF ALTAI TERRITORY IN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

National Assembly of RA, Armenia
April 19 2006

On April 17 Vahan Hovhannisyan, RA NA Vice President received the
Duma delegation of Altai territory headed by Vladimir Pekarsky,
who is also the Chairman of Entrepreneurship Committee.

The meeting, in which a group of entrepreneurs were participating,
was organized within the framework of the Armenian-Russian
inter-parliamentary cooperation committee activity to elaborate joint
business programmes. Similar meetings will also take place in Altai.

During the meeting an agreement was reached to make more competitive
the agricultural products of Armenia in the Russian market, find
new consumer markets. Both sides also discussed the possibilities of
decreasing the import prices of the Russian goods to Armenia.

AKSU: AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIES REMAINING UNDER OCCUPATION POSES GREAT OBSTACLE TO STABILITY IN THE REGION

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
April 19 2006

Turkey’s Interior Minister Abdulkadir Aksu today started his visit
to Azerbaijan at the invitation of his Azerbaijani counterpart,
Colonel-General Ramil Usubov (APA).

Mr.Aksu visited the tomb of the then President Heydar Aliyev in the
Honorary Alley, Martyr’s Alley and the Alley of Turkish martyrs.

Following that, the two Interior Ministers had talks in the Interior
Ministry. Mr.Usubov said that Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are
developing in all spheres. The Azerbaijani Minister noted that the
relations between the Interior Ministries of the two countries were
established in 1992 and the ties are strengthening.

“These relationships should be further strengthened. We should unite
our efforts to fight against transnational organized crimes such
as terrorism, illegal arms and drug traffic, trafficking in human
beings, illegal migration, which poses a serious threat to stability,”
Usubov underlined.

The Minister also said that the meeting of Turkish, Azerbaijani and
Georgian Interior Ministers is intended to be held soon.

Turkish Minister said that this visit will promote deepening of the
cooperation relations between Azerbaijan and Turkey. Stressing the
importance of collaborating to fight transnational crimes, the visitor
proposed to conduct exchange of information between Azerbaijan and
Turkey in this field.

“Nagorno Garabagh or in general, 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories
remaining under occupation is unacceptable. This factor poses a great
obstacle to ensure stability in the region,” Mr.Aksu underlined.

The Ministers signed a document on cooperation between bodies of
interior affairs of Turkey and Azerbaijan.

PRESIDENT KOCHARYAN STRESSES THE IMPORTANCE OF FIGHTING SHADOW ECONOMY

ArmRadio.am
18.04.2006 17:45

Midterm results, the reduction of shadow economy in the spheres
of mining and construction were discussed today during the working
meeting of President Robert Kocharyan and Head of the State Tax Agency
Felix Tsolakyan.

According to the data provided by Head of the State Tax Agency,
the tax revenues in the state budget comprised 43.2 billion drams,
which is 8 billion more than last year.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of the fact that the
percentage of the income tax and profit tax is high in the total
volume of taxes.

Rise has been registered also in social payments. In the first term
15.3 billion drams have been collected, which is 2.4 billion drams
more than the results of the last year.

The collocutors turned to the process of registration of property and
revenues. Robert Kocharyan stressed the importance of the necessity
of its legal improvement and execution of certain mechanisms.

The President gave instructions regarding the issues discussed. He
underlined that he expects consistent work from the Tax Agency in
the direction of resolving the problems suggested.

EUROPE’S SECOND WARNING TO AZERBAIJAN

AZG Armenian Daily
19/04/2006

“The verdict for Ramil Safarov became a verdict for the entire
anti-Armenian policy of Azerbaijan,” Hayk Demoyan, representative of
RA Defense Ministry at the trail of Ramil Safarov, said at today’s
press conference. Azeri army officer Safarov killed his Armenian
colleague Gurgen Margarian in Budapest, on February 19 2004. On April
13, 2006, the Court of Hungary sentenced Safarov to life imprisonment
with eligibility for parole in 30 years.

“This is the second time since the beginning of this year that
Europe warns

Azerbaijan that the settlement of issues through middle age barbarian
measures is not acceptable for the world and Europe, in particular,”
Demoyan said, reminding that the European Parliament adopted a
resolution condemning the destruction of the Armenian medieval
graveyard in Nakhijevan. He said that publications in the Hungarian
mass media and the meetings with Hungarian public show that the
society of this country finds the verdict for Safarov fair, moreover,
they state that the verdict is proceeded from the national interests
of Hungary.

Nazeli Vardanian, the Margarian family attorney, informed about the
details of April 4-13 court hearings. She said that the April 4 speech
of the prosecutor who demanded to sentence Safarov to life imprisonment
with no right to amnesty for 30 years was quite a strict one. The
prosecutor emphasized that the crime was plotted. He proved this by
reminding about the ax that was bought beforehand, Safarov’s attempt to
kill the second Armenian officer Hayk Makuchian, as well as his yells
when threatening to kill the rest of the Armenian servicemen. It was
stated that the murder of Makuchian was averted by the policemen. The
prosecutor emphasized that Safarov trespassed on Hungary’s hospitality
and he should bear the most severe punishment to avert the repetition
of such cases in the future. Hungarian lawyer Gabriella Kaspar,
representing the legal successors of Margarian, pointed out that
extreme brutality of Safarov is rooted in national hatred and demanded
to sentence him to life imprisonment. While the lawyer of Safarov
suggested to take into account the results of the expertise proving
that the Azeri officer was fully or partly insane. She also tried to
prove that Safarov was in “the post-war physical state.” In response,
the lawyers of the Armenian side reminded the court that Safarov
has never fought in a war. Moreover, our lawyers also disputed the
statement that Safarov doesn’t speak Russian well enough so that he
can’t deny the testimonies he gave before. In his April 13 speech,
Safarov expressed regret for his actions, insisted on his insanity
and said that, seeing the Armenians, he totally lost control. Safarov
added that he wasn’t going to kill, and if he intended to kill the
Armenians, he would have done that in Azerbaijan and Turkey where
there are Armenian communities. It’s noteworthy that if Safarov is
pardoned he entry Hungary will be closed for him for 10 more years.

Vardanian said that in response to the claim Safarov’s lawyer
to involve the Azeri experts in the trial, as Safarov belongs to
non-European culture, the judge said he doesn’t know a single culture
that approves a murder with an ax. In response to the question about
the appeal against the sentence or extradition of Safarov, Vardanian
said that the judiciary systems both in Armenian and Hungary are
three-staged. But the Appeal Court of Hungary doesn’t hold a double
investigation and considers only the existing documents. They
can appeal to the Causation court only in case new circumstances
resurface. She said that the appeals of Safarov’s lawyers will hardly
be satisfied.

As for the extradition probability, Vardanian said that the
Azeri side keeps demanding that from the very beginning of the
trial. Particularly, she said that thanks to the efforts of Azeri
lawyers, the Court of Hungary was going to pass the case for the trial
in Baku but the Armenian lawyers averted that. “At present, there
is no relevant agreement on Safarov’s extradition between Azerbaijan
and Hungary even if it occurs that will not apply to him. At present,
Safarov’s extradition is impossible,” Vardanian said.

She added that the Armenian side also instituted a civil suit on
compensation of the moral and material damage. According to preliminary
data, the volume of the suit will amount to $500 thousand. The suit
will be considered at a separate trial. Vardanian and Demoyan thanked
RA Defense Ministry, particularly, minister Serge Sargsian and deputy
defense minister Artur Aghabekian for assistance in the course of the
court investigation. Besides, they thanked the Armenian mass media
for highlighting the trial.

PACE ENVOYS TO MONITOR MONUMENTS

Lragir.am
17 April 06

In the autumn of 2006 the envoy of the Council of Europe Ms. O’Hara
will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan to monitor the state
of monuments in the region. Tigran Torosyan, the head of the
Armenian delegation to the PACE, thinks this question requires
serious attention. And the Azerbaijanis are already prepared. On
the days of the spring session of the PACE the Azerbaijanis
circulated a “pseudo-scientific” project entitled “The State of
Important Azerbaijani Historical and Cultural Monuments in Armenia”
about a number of Azerbaijani monuments in Armenia, which were
destroyed. All the three countries will extend information on
monuments to Ms. O’Hara. Tigran Torosyan does not exclude that
Azerbaijan may present a list of monuments which allegedly existed
and were destroyed in Armenia. To prevent this we need to have the
answers to all these questions, says Tigran Torosyan. To prepare the
answers Tigran Torosyan will meet with all those who, in his opinion,
can be responsible for this issue till April 22.

MEMBERS OF EU – ARMENIAN PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMISSION TO ARRIVE IN YEREVAN

ArmRadio.am
17.04.2006 10:37

Members of the EU – Armenian Parliamentary Cooperation Commission
will arrive today in Armenia.

In the Parliament they will participate in 8th sitting of the EU –
Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Commission.

During the visit members of the delegation will meet Ra President
Robert Kocharyan, NA Chairman Arthur Baghdaaryan, Prime Minister
Andranik Margaryan, Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan and Ambassadors
of EU member states.

Armenian opposition leader says Karabakh peace ideas “in favour of Azerbaijan”

Aravot, Yerevan
12 Apr 06

Excerpt from Margarit Yesayan report by Armenian newspaper Aravot on
12 April entitled “To root out the evil is the most important task”

An interview with the leader of Anrapetutyun [Republic] Party, Aram
Sarkisyan.

[Correspondent] Mr Sarkisyan, what do you think of the sale of the
Razdan power plant?

[Aram Sarkisyan] I think that the “Property for Debt” and “Property
for Gas” programmes are in fact addressing a different problem that
may be described as “everything for debt”. Obviously the Armenian
energy security has received one final blow from the authorities. The
problem is not at all about being a vassal of Russia. The problem
regards the state and statehood. We cannot speak about independence
and profitability when the state property is being sold to Russia or
any other state for that matter.

[Passage omitted: reiterates the point]

[Correspondent] So you are against the deal. But what do you suggest,
another revolution?

[Sarkisyan] If there is another option, please suggest. The gas price
will rise, but in three years time. I suppose that one day three years
later we shall find out that a “cheaper” gas price cost us not only
the Razdan power plant but also shares in the Iran-Armenia gas
pipeline.

[Passage omitted: Sarkisyan speculates on other possible consequences
of selling property]

[Correspondent] But what is the way out? What does the opposition
suggest?

[Sarkisyan] In our country the authorities consider the opposition
their enemy. Today we can only be against this. But
tomorrow…[ellipses as published]. All I can say is that our party is
drafting a law on nationalization because if there is a law on
denationalization and privatization, there should also be a law on
nationalization to avoid abuses. This law will give an opportunity to
annul all the illegal deals.

[Correspondent] You have put forward your proposal for the Karabakh
issue settlement. Did they reply?

[Sarkisyan] No, they did not. But today’s options for a settlement of
the Karabakh issue are in favour of Azerbaijan. And there is no mutual
compromise. I am sure we shall be able to root out the evil and
produce good results. But if not, Armenians will continue to leave
Armenia. We shall then lose this state and turn into a nation which
will be making toasts on foreign shores. [reference to Armenians
living abroad]

[Correspondent] How will the political field look before the
parliamentary election 2007?

[Sarkisyan] It is too early to speak about this election. That is the
field of the authorities and they are preparing for that election. But
I am sure that it would just be an imitation. Actually the year of
2006 raised serious questions for our country and the region as it is
considered to be a year of the Karabakh issue settlement.

The presidents of the two countries may meet again in May. All the
parties are awaiting the results of that meeting, especially the
ruling party as it does not know what will happen afterwards, what
parties it will unite and whose interests it will support.

Agence France Presse — English
April 14, 2006 Friday 5:32 PM GMT

Rare books go on display in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, April 14 2006

Some 75 rare books from the collection of late Armenian oil magnate
and art connoisseur Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian will go on display in
Istanbul’s Sakip Sabanci museum on Saturday.

The highlight of the exhibition is a 241-page prayer book that was
printed on parchment in Italy at the end of the 13th century, the
museum said, adding that its colours had withstood age well.

The books from the Gulbenkian collection will form part of an
exhibition titled “The art of the book in the East and the West” that
runs until May 28.

It features antique books from France, Iran, Japan and the Ottoman
empire, but also more recent rare books such as illustrated copies of
the works of Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac.

“We have never before mounted an exhibition of a such a combination
of books from the East and the West. We wanted it to serve as a
symbolic bridge between the two cultures of our founder,” said the
president of the board of the Gulbenkian Foundation, Emilio Rui
Vilar.

Gulbenkian was born to Armenian parents in Istanbul. He spent many
years in Portugal and died in 1955 in Lisbon, which is home to the
Gulbenkian Museum.