Author: Vardanian Garo

GUL: REFORM IS A NECESSITY, NOT A CHOICE

Turkish Press
June 19 2006

BAKU – Turkish Foreign Minister & Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul
has indicated, "we accept that reform is a necessity, not a choice
any longer. It is time to take actual steps to advance on reforms."

Delivering a speech in the opening session of the 33rd meeting of
foreign ministers of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in
Baku, Gul said that the Middle East suffered from regional conflicts,
political problems and radical religious violence for years. "That’s
why countries should work jointly to assure peace and security.

Turkey strongly supports a secure, stable, democratic and nuclear-free
Middle East," Gul underlined. Stating that Turkey was exerting utmost
efforts for current tension not to be turned into a regional and
global tension, Gul said, "we consider that the problem should be
resolved through diplomatic way."

-IRAQ AND PALESTINE-

"We should exert efforts for Iraqi people to live in peace and
unity. New government (of Iraq) should work for approval of the
constitution. We believe that problems (in Iraq) can only be solved,
if Iraqi politicians give up ethnical and religious arguments,"
he stressed.

He underscored that Turkey was ready to cooperate with Iraq.

In regard to Palestine and Middle East peace process, Gul indicated,
"unity among Palestinian people is one of the important issues. The
other is that Islam world should find a way to assure this unity. And
the last one is that a solution should be found for the two states
(Palestine and Israel) to live together."

-UPPER KARABAKH-

Gul said, "the ‘frozen’ problems in southern Caucasus have been
hampering efforts to settle stability and democracy in the region.

Today, we are still waiting for Armenia to withdraw from Upper
Karabakh. Armenian occupation forced nearly 1 million Azerbaijani
people to leave their homes. Other international organizations may
not see those people’s difficult situation. But the OIC should foresee
what will happen a decade after. We cannot ignore it."

Stressing that Armenia should pursue constructive policies with
neighboring countries, Gul said that Turkey would continue fulfilling
its commitments to this end.

-TRNC-

Referring to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "Turkey and the Turkish
Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) have carried out a successful work
under the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s plan.

However, the Greek Cypriot administration rejected the plan. The
Greek Cypriot administration has still been trying to do everything
to hamper the United Nations’ parameters."

"Turkish Cypriot people have still been imposed to isolation. They
have been continuing to live under embargoes in a period in which
everybody talks about globalization," he said.

Recalling that Turkey prepared an Action Plan in January in an effort
to find a solution to the Cyprus issue, Gul said, "the international
community including member countries to the OIC supported our
initiative. We expect all OIC-member countries to support our plan.

BAKU SUGGESTS SHORT TERMS OF RESOLVING THE KARABAKH CONFLICT

ArmRadio.am
19.06.2006 12:27

"Baku is ready to provide the highest level of autonomy to
Nagorno-Karabakh, including the status equal to the one of Tatarstan
within the Russian Federation," the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan
Elmar Mammadyarov said, Day.az. informs.

"The Constitution of Tatarstan, for instance, allows opening
representation of the republic in a foreign country," Elmar Mammadyarov
noted, adding that the issue of the status of Nagorno-Karabakh
should be resolved earlier or later, and Baku suggests settling
the question within short terms. For this, however, it is important
to create necessary conditions to allow Azerbaijanis residing here
participate in the process. Mammadyarov declared that in the course
of time Azerbaijan will get even more powerful, therefore "Karabakh
Armenians should realize that for their own prosperity they had better
stay Azeri citizens."

AZERBAIJAN HOSTS 33RD SESSION OF OIC FOREIGN MINISTERS TODAY

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 19 2006

The 33rd session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference Foreign
Ministers started in Azerbaijan today. Azerbaijan’s President Ilham
Aliyev made an opening speech at the session (APA).

Mr.Aliyev said Azerbaijan is taking an active part in the ongoing
processes in the world as well as in regional projects.

"The session will also focus on the issues Azerbaijan are concerned
about. We are concerned about the processes ongoing in the world.

Thus, Islam is made the same with terror by Western media and some
political circles. We cannot consent to this. Islam is the religious
of prosperity and peace. Islam cannot possibly be regarded as the same
with terror. Azerbaijan is the victim of terror. Armenians committed at
least 30 terrorist acts in Azerbaijan killing over 2,000 people. Terror
has neither a religion nor a nation," the Azerbaijani President said.

Aliyev attached great importance to civilizations, interreligious
dialogue. Stating that Azerbaijan is speedily joining the democratic
processes, the head of state noted that any national and religious
discrimination is unacceptable.

"We’ll express our stance and clarify this issue as a result of the
efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference," he said.

Highly appreciating holding of such a distinguished event in Baku,
President Aliyev spoke about the background of Azerbaijan.

"Azerbaijan has gained its independence for 15 years. There exists
civil solidarity, economical and political stability in Azerbaijan.

The Gross Domestic Product increased by 26 percent in the country
last year. This figure reached to 40% in the past five months of this
year. In addition, poverty reducing programs are being implemented
in Azerbaijan. However, there are some problems that Azerbaijan
cannot solve it by its own. It is in great need of support by the
Organization of the Islamic Conference member states. One of these
problems is Armenia’s aggression against Azerbaijan which resulted in
at least one million people becoming refugees and internally displaced
persons. Armenians keep on destroying historical and cultural heritage
in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. This is the act of vandalism
by Armenians.

We support peaceful solution of this problem. However, we cannot
consent to this reality. Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity has
been recognized by the entire world. Despite the UN Resolutions on
the solution of the Nagorno Garabagh problem they lack mechanism
of implementation. Azerbaijan has never accepted the violation of
its territorial integrity. Armenians came to our lands in the 19th
century. Nagorno Garabagh is ancient Azerbaijani territory," President
Aliyev underlined.

JEWELLERS MEET KOCHARYAN

A1+
[11:46 pm] 16 June, 2006

Today Robert Kocharyan received the members of the Armenian Jewellers’
World Union Council who are participating in the annual conference
of the Council in Yerevan.

Robert Kocharyan discussed with the guests the perspectives of the
development of jeweller’s art in Armenia. He mentioned that there is
need for new steps in order to develop this branch of economy.

The members of the Council told the Presidents about their
offers. He also informed that they intend to hold an international
exhibition-conference of jeweller’s art in Yerevan in 2007 in which
many leading companies of the world will participate.

Besides, the office of the union will be in Yerevan which according
to them will contribute to the active cooperation of Armenia with
famous companies.

SIXTH BOOK IN THE "EUROPEAN INTEGRATION LIBRARY SERIES" TO BE PRESENTED JUNE 16

ArmRadio.am
16.06.2006 10:20

On 16 June, AEPLAC will present the sixth book in the "European
Integration Library Series" – "The Fuel Market in Europe".

This book is making an overview of the European fuel market and the
rules governing the field. Section 1 in the book gives a general
economic overview of the fuel markets in the EU countries. Different
quantitative and qualitative analyses are introduced which provide
a general idea of the current trends.

Section 2 describes in detail the general provisions related to the
chemical composition of fuel, as well as the monitoring systems and the
schemes prescribed by the EU and the national supervision mechanisms
to ensure compliance.

This component is especially important for environmental and quality
monitoring purposes.

Section 3 describes the Community framework for taxation of fuel
products as well as the relevant tax exemptions.

The event will host members of the Government, MPs, representatives
of the diplomatic missions, international organizations, businesses,
education and science, and the civil society.

LE QUINTETTE A VENT CONQUIERT L’ARMENIE
par Eliane Faucon-Dumont

Le Telegramme
14 juin 2006

Pierre-Yves Courtis, Alain Ehkirch, David Philippe, Thierry Besnard et
Cyril Colas ont decide " d’internationaliser " leur Quintette a vent.

Sans aucun doute, le voyage armenien a ete le plus fort sur le plan
emotionnel. Repondant a l’invitation d’un des grands compositeurs
du pays, Arthur Aharonian, les Bretons ont ete recus, courant mai,
par R. Amirkhanyan, president de l’Union des compositeurs armenien,
qui a personnellement organise leur tournee.

Dès son arrivee, le Quintette a donne son premier concert a l’ambassade
de France devant un parterre choisi. Les très nombreux compositeurs
que compte l’Armenie etaient tous presents. Certains, complètement
seduits, ont promis d’ecrire des partitions pour les Bretons.

Des idees

Le jour suivant, ces derniers se sont retrouves dans un autre salon
de l’ambassade, pour un nouveau concert visiblement apprecie par les
nombreux connaisseurs a nouveau dans la salle.

Le concert initialement prevu le jeudi a ete annule pour cause de
deuil national. Les membres du Quintette a vent en ont profite pour
travailler de nouvelles partitions. Le jour suivant, une rencontre
prevue au Conservatoire d’Erevan, s’est transformee en master class.

Cet après-midi musical a visiblement donne des idees au directeur
du Conservatoire qui aimerait, dans un avenir prochain, reiterer
l’experience. Autre moment très emouvant pour les voyageurs, ce
concert organise, a leur intention, dans un monastère creuse dans
la roche. Un choeur de jeunes filles " chantait magnifiquement des
airs du repertoire orthodoxe ". Aux dires des uns et des autres,
ces minutes-la resteront profondement ancrees dans les memoires.

Des rencontres

D’emouvantes rencontres ont marque les membres du Quintette a vent, en
particulier, les longues seances passees en compagnie des compositeurs
armeniens. Le Quintette offrira, sans doute, très bientôt la primeur
d’oeuvres venues d’Armenie a ses auditeurs.

Les liens tisses vont sans doute se renforcer dans les mois ou les
annees a venir. Alain Ehkirch, qui organise chaque annee des concerts
au Manoir de Mollien, a deja invite Arthur Aharonian et ses collègues
a s’y produire.

Le voyage en Allemagne fut plus " classique ". Deux concerts, donnes
fin mai dans le cadre du jumelage Quimper-Remscheid, ont egalement
attire le public. Tout l’ete, le Quintette a vent va voyager en
Bretagne, il participera, au mois d’août, au très interessant " Petit
festival des musiciens du Bout du Monde " organise a Pont-Croix par
le musicien Konrad Neander.

GRAPHIQUE: Photo, Legende: Les musiciens bretons posent devant
l’affiche de leur concert en compagnie d’un jeune compositeur armenien.

–Boundary_(ID_VA/JYHSWchRNo1XXF4/eRQ)- –

AGREEMENT ON DEVELOPMENT CREDIT BETWEEN REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA AND INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION RATIFIED

Noyan Tapan
Jun 14 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 14, NOYAN TAPAN. The RA National Assembly on June 14
ratified the agreement on development credit, which was signed between
the Republic of Armenia and the Internatioanl Development Association
(IDA) on April 7, 2006. The IDA will allocate for Armenia a credit
equivalent to 3.5 mln SDR for the purpose of implementing the renewable
energy program in the country. The credit is repayable over 40 years.

AZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA SIGNAL WILLINGNESS TO RESUME TALKS OVER DISPUTED ENCLAVE
Aida Sultanova

AP Worldstream
Jun 14, 2006

Azerbaijan and Armenia on Wednesday promised to continue talks over
Nagorno-Karabakh despite two failed efforts this year by the Caucasus
nations’ presidents to resolve the disputed enclave’s status.

The two countries’ foreign ministers, along with international
mediators, met in Paris for four hours of talks on Tuesday, a week
after Ilham Aliev of Azerbaijan and Robert Kocharian of Armenia met
in Romania on the sidelines of a Black Sea summit.

Top officials from both countries also traded blame about the repeated
failures.

Deputy Foreign Minister Araz Azimov said in televised comments that
Tuesday’s meeting was "as always, tense and intensive. … In any
case, the process will continue. The next step will be determined in
the near future."

A high-ranking official with Armenia’s Foreign Ministry accused
Azerbaijan of making what he said were unconstructive steps, but said
the talks would continue. The official requested anonymity since he
was not authorized to speak for the ministry.

Russian and French mediators from the Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe’s so-called Minsk group also attended Tuesday’s
meeting.

Nagorno-Karabakh is inside Azerbaijan but populated mostly by ethnic
Armenians, who have run it and seven contiguous districts since an
uneasy 1994 cease-fire ended six years of full-scale war. Sporadic
border clashes regularly break out.

____

Associated Press Writer Avet Demourian contributed to this report
from Yerevan, Armenia.

MONUMENT TO ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS OPENED IN FRENCH CITY OF TOULON

Noyan Tapan
Armenians Today
Jun 13 2006

PARIS, JUNE 13, NOYAN TAPAN – ARMENIANS TODAY. Ambassador of Armenia
to France Edvard Nalbandian and Toulon Mayor, Senator, former Minister
Hubert Falco opened solemny in the Toulon central park on June 9 the
tufa-built khachkar (cross stone)-monument dedicated to memory of the
1915 Armenian Genocide victims erecting of which the Armenian community
of Toulon assisted. Prefects, deputies, mayors, local self-government
bodies and heads of the French Armenian organizations, hundreds of
representatives of the Armenian community were present at the ceremony.

The French Naval Orchestra performed at the ceremony of opening the
khachkar hymns of Armenia and France, the two countries’ flags were
bent, numerous wreaths were laid to the monument.

As Noyan Tapan was informed by the RA Foreign Ministry’s Press and
Information Department, in his speech Ambassador E.Nalbandian mentioned
that khachkars-monuments dedicated to memory of the Armenian Genocide
victims were opened in different cities of France during the recent
years. These khachkars-monuments express the whole French people’s
unreserved condemnation of the Genocide and solidarity with the
Armenian people in a notable and obvious way.

“Within the framework of the Year of Armenia in France, about 40 oldest
khachkars created by Armenian masters will be exhibited in Louvre,
at the exhibition entitled Armenia Sacra, as the brightest display
of the Armenian people’s culture,” E.Nalbandian said.

During the visit paid to Toulon, Ambassador E.Nalbandian discussed
with Hubert Falco preparatory process of events envisaged in Toulon
within the framework of the Year of Armenia to France.

MAHMOUDALI CHOHRAGANLI: I WAS DEPORTED FROM AZERBAIJAN

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
June 12 2006

Leader of the South Azerbaijan National Awakening Movement Mahmoudali
Chohraganli gave an exclusive interview to APA.

In his interview, Mr.Chohraganli touched on his visits to Turkey and
Azerbaijan and commented on some issues related to his sending back
to the United States.

-This was a special visit. I have never paid such a visit to Turkey.

We were met with special importance and respect in this visit. We had
fruitful talks with heads of a number of Turkish organizations and
intellectuals as well. Turkey’s security service officers detained
me while I was being interviewed by the “Turkey” newspaper.

-What have you been told about the causes of your detention by
security police?

-There was no illegal cause. High raking officers talked to me at
the police station. They told me that there is a treaty on security
between Turkey and Iran. If I do not leave Turkey, relations with Iran
can be broken. They also said there was a danger to my life. I was also
told that a special gang is in Istanbul to kill me. I must remind that
when I was holding a press conference in Istanbul one day before that
event, 40 or 50 people provoked by Iran were posting pickets outside
the building. They were shouting anti-US slogans and praising Iran.

-Did you arrive in Azerbaijan by your own wish?

-Yes I did. Thus, my upcoming arrival at Baku was made public a month
ago, and I had given an interview regarding this visit.

-What have you been told in Azerbaijan?

-We were registered at a hotel in Baku. I was interviewed by ANS and
two more TV channels of Azerbaijan within few hours. Security police
detained us when we were going to lunch. Though we were told to be
taken to the station first, I realized that they were going to take
me and my family to the airport. It was my wish to leave for New York
City from the airport.

-Do you know the reason why the Azerbaijani law enforcement bodies
detained you?

-My presence in Baku troubled some and the Azerbaijani government
took a step taking account Iran’s intention fulfilling the Farsi
chauvinism’s intention. There was nothing illegal in my arrival at
Baku, I had a visa. However, I was deported from Azerbaijan.

-What are you going to do after that?

-The Azerbaijani government did not do rightly. I lost my confidence
in the Azerbaijani police. I have thought my family’s safety could be
guaranteed. However, I and my family were taken to the airport in a
very disrespectful manner. They did not even let us take our things
and say goodbye to our friends. After being detained at the airport
for ten or twelve hours, we set off for New York. This event is likely
pleased the Farsi regime, Armenians and enemies of Azerbaijan.

-Did US Embassies in Turkey and Azerbaijan have any interference in
these events?

-No, I was not informed about this. On the other hand, I was told that
was a state decision. I think there was no need for the US interference
in this matter. I’ll make serious changes to our further steps. Though
our target remains the same, our tactics needs changing. It was clear
that 35 million of nation will determine its fortune by themselves
and if they want freedom, they will achieve it.

It turned out that the ruling party here does not care about the
freedom of South Azerbaijan. The northern Azerbaijani authorities
have never rendered any support to their southern compatriots and
they neither want to raise this issue. These processes disappointed
Azerbaijan’s friends. We realized that we should get better knowledge
of ourselves and our power. We think about whether we have brothers
around us.