Author: Virabian Jhanna

DEVOIR DE CIVILISATION

Le Figaro, France
02 octobre 2006

L’editorial d’Yves Threard

En invitant la Turquie a reconnaître le genocide armenien, Jacques
Chirac a brise, samedi a Erevan, un tabou diplomatique. Certes,
la declaration du president de la Republique etait previsible. La
France fut, en 2001, le premier grand pays europeen a legiferer pour
qualifier de genocide le massacre de 1,5 million de personnes par
l’Empire ottoman au debut du siècle dernier.

Les propos du chef de l’Etat devraient indisposer Ankara, dont
la reaction se fait attendre. En d’autres temps, elle aurait ete
immediate. Et certains ne manqueront pas de denoncer l’ingerence
de Paris dans un dossier qui lui est etranger. La presence d’une
importante communaute armenienne en France, constituee de nombreux
descendants de rescapes, explique que notre pays a toujours ete
sensible a ce sujet. Mais c’est egalement a l’avenir de l’Europe
que pensait Jacques Chirac en s’adressant a la Turquie. Partisan
de l’entree de cette dernière dans l’Union, il a tenu a souligner
l’exigence democratique europeenne : une entite " qui revendique
l’appartenance a une meme societe et la croyance en de memes valeurs
". Message destine aux Turcs, bien sûr, qui doivent se resoudre a
rendre leur histoire transparente. Aux institutions europeennes aussi,
qui n’ont pas fait de la reconnaissance du genocide une condition
prealable a l’acceptation de la Turquie. A tous ceux enfin, notamment
en France, qui s’opposent a l’elargissement au-dela des rives du
Bosphore. Pour des raisons, entre autres, religieuses. Le chef de
l’Etat a-t-il voulu indirectement les rassurer ? Hostile a toute
reference chretienne dans le preambule au projet de Constitution, il
vient de reaffirmer sa definition de l’Europe : liberte, democratie et
laïcite en sont, pour lui, les indispensables fondements. En melant,
dans le meme discours, le genocide armenien et la reconnaissance de
la Shoah par l’Allemagne, Jacques Chirac s’expose a d’inevitables
critiques, chaque tragedie revendiquant sa singularite. Mais la
comparaison sert, dans son esprit, a rappeler que l’Europe est un
socle de valeurs communes tout autant qu’un continent. Un exemple
unique, un modèle a l’ambition universelle pour propager la paix. Le
president de la Republique affectionne les rôles de paladin du dialogue
entre les nations et d’avocat des damnes de la Terre. Ce week-end,
en Armenie, loin du debat sur la repentance et la question de savoir
si c’est aux seuls historiens d’ecrire l’histoire, il a fait un
acte de civilisation. Sans doute etait-il necessaire a l’heure où,
meme en Turquie, quelques initiatives officielles se dessinent pour
revisiter le passe. Non sans mal puisque Ankara s’est toujours mefie de
ses minorites, et que des intellectuels denoncant le genocide, comme
l’ecrivain Orhan Pamuk, continuent d’etre des cibles de choix pour le
regime. OEuvre utile egalement, bien davantage que cette proposition
de loi francaise, defendue par le Parti socialiste, visant a faire
de la negation du genocide armenien un delit. Il est bienvenu que la
France, en certaines circonstances, affirme son devoir de civilisation.

–Boundary_(ID_mdciNvvVocGpjfmK+p/r /Q)–

TURKEY’S ACCESSION TO EU NOT TO POSE THREAT TO ARMENIA – KOCHARIAN
by Tigran Liloyan

ITAR-TASS News Agency, Russia
September 30, 2006 Saturday

Armenian President Robert Kocharian said on Saturday Turkey’s accession
to the EU will pose no threat to Armenia.

"The system of values such as the freedom of movement and open borders
accepted in Europe should spread on Turkey’s policy, too," he said.

"All these issues should be taken into account not at the last stage
of Turkey’s accession to the EU, but in the beginning," he said.

"We are interested in having a more predictable, safe and democratic
neighbor," Kocharian said.

He pointed out that "in fact, Armenia-Turkish relations are not
formed."

"The heads of the neighboring countries should communicate with each
other not by means of letters, but of diplomatic embassies they should
have, by means of constant consultations and foreign ministries’
contacts," he said.

LACHIN: THE EMPTYING LANDS
By Onnik Krikorian in Lachin

Institute for War and Peace Reporting, UK
Sept 28 2006

Landmines, neglect and uncertainty result in an Armenian exodus from
strategic corridor.

Suarassy, a mine-infested region.

Relics of war, south of Lachin.

Growing up in Ditsmayri, near Zangelan, Kashatagh Region.

What is left of the village of Malibeyli. All photographs by Onnik
Krikorian.

The local residents of Suarassy seem oblivious to the hidden danger
as they herd cattle down a road known to have been mined during the
Armenian-Azerbaijani war of the early Nineties. Despite the mangled
military lorry rusting in a ditch to one side, none of their cows
have so far detonated seven anti-tank mines still believed to be
buried underneath, so they reckon the road is safe.

Less than a metre away is forest and grazing land laden with at
least 900 anti-personnel landmines. Yura Sharamanian, operations
officer for the HALO Trust, compares the minefield to Cambodia and
says that the British de-mining charity considers Lachin to be the
most mine-infested region in Karabakh and surrounding regions, which
were fought over during the 1991-4 war.

Although considered by the international community to be occupied
Azerbaijani land, this territory is now marked on Armenian maps as
Kashatagh. Also including the formerly Azerbaijani regions of Kubatly
and Zangelan as well as Lachin itself, Kashatagh stretches down to
the Iranian border in the south.

This strip of land between Armenia and Karabakh is one of the key
points in dispute in the unresolved Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict.

And it is also home to a few thousand hardy Armenian settlers who
have moved here since the 1994 ceasefire.

However, it is not just the danger of landmines that threatens the
existence of new settlements in the Kashatagh region. Although a 2005
census put the official population of Kashatagh at 9,800 Armenians,
with 2,200 residing in the town of Lachin, the actual figure is now
believed to be around fifty per cent less.

Five years ago, Kashatagh’s population was estimated by local
officials to be approximately 15,000. Before the Karabakh war, the
three Azerbaijani regions of Lachin, Kubatly and Zangelan had 129,000
residents, with over 60,000 Azerbaijanis and ethnic Kurds living in
the Lachin region alone.

Officials in the administrative town of Lachin, now renamed Berdzor,
are reluctant to admit out loud that these reports are true, but
privately confirm that the number of settlers is far below that
officially quoted. None estimate the population at over 6,000 and
most soon forget to maintain the official line that most of the new
settlers are refugees from Azerbaijan. Instead, they admit that most
are from Armenia proper.

Zorik Irkoyan, chief specialist at the education department for the
new Kashatagh region, for example, is a journalist from Yerevan who
was involved in the military operation to take the town. He says that
few refugees were among most of the new arrivals in Kashatagh.

"Not many came because they were used to their life in Baku and
Sumgait [in Azerbaijan]," he said. "Many now feel safer in Armenia,
and like a million other Armenians, some have left for Russia. Some
might have moved here because of the social conditions in Armenia
although others did not. I can’t guarantee that I will always live
in Lachin, but there is a connection with this land."

Some new arrivals are indeed refugees from Azerbaijan and Karabakh,
as well as the Diaspora, but most are vulnerable families from
Armenia. They were attracted by the promise of land, livestock and
social benefits averaging 4,000 Armenian drams (about ten US dollars)
per child.

But, since 2004, residents of Lachin say that government money is
being reduced and people are moving away. Even Robert Matevosian, head
of resettlement for Kashatagh, admits, "Recent reports [highlighting
out-migration] are raising various issues and concerns that do exist."

Samuel Kocharian, director of the AGAPE Children’s Home that
accommodates socially vulnerable children, is more open. "The process
of resettlement started on a large scale at the beginning because
of patriotism," he said, "but now, with the same enthusiasm and on
the same scale, Kashatagh is emptying." Like others in the region,
he estimates the population of the region to be about 5-6,000 people.

The most likely reason is not hard to spot. In the ongoing peace
negotiations over the future of Nagorny Karabakh, the Armenian
government seems committed to returning almost all of the seven
territories surrounding Karabakh currently under Armenian control. In
the event of a deal, Lachin is set to remain as the crucial land link
between Armenia and Karabakh – but it remains uncertain how wide the
"Lachin Corridor" would actually be.

This is bad news for those Armenian nationalists who want to resettle
the Kashatagh region – although it will encourage those who support
a peace settlement as it means relatively few Armenians will have to
make way for returning Azerbaijanis under a future deal.

The region is now administered by the internationally-unrecognised
Nagorny Karabakh Republic. Kocharian says the Armenian and Karabakh
authorities do not want settlements outside a 20-30 km radius of
Lachin and are obviously reluctant to finance any new construction
projects, saying that only a small amount of the 750 million drams
(around 1.7 million dollars) allocated to the entire region for house
construction has actually been spent.

Moreover, while many homes in Lachin proper have been refurbished at
the expense of the local authorities, little or nothing has happened
in the villages. Sources in the Kashatagh administration speaking to
IWPR on condition of anonymity confirm this.

Others also say that initial promises to provide free electricity up
to 200 kw per month for two years to new arrivals were broken at the
beginning of the year. Gagik Kosakian, deputy governor of the region,
does not deny this, saying, "Electricity used to be cheaper than it
is today and this allowance was stopped at the beginning of 2006.

However, electricity is still cheaper than in Armenia."

Karegah, three km from Lachin, has been presented to visitors as a
model village in the region, but its head, Marine Petoyan, is concerned
about its future. Sixty per cent of the village comprising 65 mainly
refugee families has no water, and 25 families have already had their
electricity cut off because of non-payment of outstanding debts.

"There was also a bus for schoolchildren which was used by others as
well, but it’s been six months since it last operated," she said. "No
money for petrol was provided."

On September 28, Jirair Sefilian, a former military commander from
the Karabakh war, called for the resignation of Kashatagh governor
Hamlet Khachatrian for alleged mismanagement, saying that 52 villages
in the region had neither electricity nor water.

IWPR was detained and prevented from visiting other villages
surrounding Lachin by officers of the Nagorny Karabakh National
Security Service, NSS. Samvel Kocharian says he believes this was
because "conditions were very bad in those villages [in 2001], but you
should understand that they don’t even exist now. The further away
you get from Berdzor [Lachin] the more they are forgotten and the
remotest villages are in a really bad condition. The closest regions
of Goris in Armenia and Hadrut in Karabakh have grown and developed
in the past ten years, but there’s been no change here.

"When the living conditions are improving there, and when people are
lied to for 12 years with promises that a house will be built for
them one day, it’s only natural that they want to leave."

Onnik Krikorian is a British-born freelance journalist
living and working in Armenia. He has a blog from Armenia
at with many photographs from
Lachin/Kashatagh.

PanARMENIAN.Net

Change of Negotiation Format Won’t Settle Karabakh Conflict
30.09.2006 16:17 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The problem of Nagorno Karabakh is a very
complicated one, but the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs carry out a proper
work advancing various proposals, French President Jacques Chirac said
at a joint press conference with Robert Kocharian. In his words, the
OSCE MG’s proposals are very serious and talks should be continued in
this format. `It’s inexpedient to change the format of the talks now,
since in this case the process will be started anew. New people will
need time to get familiarized with the details, a lot of time will be
spent but nothing new will be done,’ Chirac said.

For his part, the RA President underscored that conflicts should be
settled via talks but not the change of the format. `The change of the
format will not resolve the conflict and if one of the sides wishes
it, we question its wish to settle the Nagorno Karabakh conflict,’
Robert Kocharian said.

FRANCE WARNS ITS CITIZENS AGAINST VISITING SOME GEORGIAN REGIONS

Armenpress
Sept 29 2006

TBILISI, SEPTEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS: France’s foreign ministry has
warned French citizens traveling to the former Soviet republic of
Georgia against visiting some of its regions, saying they should not
either take strolls in Tbilisi streets at night.

The foreign ministry also asked French citizens to refrain from
traveling by Tbilisi underground and using pedestrian subways.

GUAM POLICE PLAN TO REPLACE RUSSIAN PEACEKEEPERS
Vladimir Solovyev

Kommersant, Russia
Sept 27 2006

The foreign ministers of the GUAM nations – Georgia, Ukraine,
Azerbaijan and Moldova – have agreed to set up their own police force
that is to replace the Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zones
of the CIS. Simultaneously, the pro-Western GUAM states are lobbying
the United Nations to pass an anti-Russian resolution. Kommersant has
learned that the no-holds-barred offensive against Russia is related
to worries that Russia is about to recognize the breakaway republics.

Military Council

The meeting of the GUAM foreign ministers took place Monday in New
York during the 61st General Assembly. They met to discuss the progress
of settlement of the frozen conflicts in the CIS. It is notable that,
although Russia is involved in the Abkhazian, South Ossetian, Nagorny
Karabakh and Transdniestrian conflicts as a guarantor of peace, no
Russian representatives were invited to the meeting. U.S. Assistant
Secretary of State David Kramer was present, however.

After a short consultation under the observation of Kramer, the
ministers unanimously decided that police peacekeeping forces from
the GUAM states should replace the Russian peacekeepers in conflict
zones on the territories of Georgia and Moldova. In particular, as
the Georgian foreign minister elucidated, an agreement was reached
that GUAM peacekeepers should participate in peacekeeping operations
in the zones of the Abkhazian and South Ossetian conflicts.

Implementing the agreement has been postponed indefinitely, however.

The decision to establish GUAM peacekeeping forces was made only in
May of this year and the quartet of countries has yet to form the
joint police force.

The ministers also conciliated a strategic plan for joint activities
"to expand international support in issues of peaceful settlement of
drawn-out conflicts on the territories of GUAM countries." The main
goal of the plan was for a resolution to be passed at the current
General Assembly session on the frozen conflicts. "The issue of the
conflicts was placed on the agenda of the session and it is logical
that some document reflecting the position of the international
community would be passed after the discussion," Moldovan Minister
of Reintegration Vasile Sova told Kommersant. "Enormous efforts are
now being made to get the settlement process moving. International
support is needed for it too."

GUAM’s desire to rid itself of Russian peacekeepers and set a firm
course toward the internationalization of the conflict regions means
that the group is extremely dissatisfied with Russia’s behavior in
settling the crises. The decision of the GUAM foreign ministers in New
York is one more step to reduce Moscow’s role as much as possible in
the negotiations processes of conflict settlement in those countries.

Coming on Strong

It is no coincidence that the GUAM decision has been times to the
UN General Assembly session. The current session has great meaning
for that quartet of countries. GUAM put up a unified front against
Russia even before the session began and has already scored important
victories. In spite of Russia’s active resistance, GUAM lobbied
successfully to have the issue of the frozen conflicts placed on the
session’s agenda. The UN general committee first refused Georgia,
Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova’s request to place the issue on the
agenda. However, once they received the support of the United States
and Great Britain, GUAM got the decision it wanted by one vote. The
results of the vote show the tension of the fight. Sixteen countries
supported the GUAM proposal, 15 opposed, 65 abstained and about 100
were simply absent from the voting.

Novruz Mamedov, head of international relations for the Azerbaijani
presidential administration, told about the diplomatic skirmishes
behind the scenes at The UN. "First Russian and Armenia had the issue
rejected," he recalled. "But finally the bureau couldn’t help paying
attention to the insistence and pressure from the GUAM countries,
and then the issue was put to a vote again… We regret that Russia
has again taken such a position. It makes us think certain things."

The placement of the issue of the conflicts on the UN session agenda
was Russia’s first defeat, since it was an acknowledgment of the
ineffectiveness of the Russian peacekeepers in the conflict zones.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili continued the offensive against
Moscow. Inspired by a NATO decision to begin an "intensive dialog"
with Tbilisi, he accused Russia of the "occupation" of Abkhazia and
South Ossetia from the podium of the UN. "Those regions," he said,
"were annexed by our neighbor to the north, Russia, which supports
their inclusion as part of it, intentionally making a mass issuance of
Russian passports in violation of international law… The residents
of the disputed regions live under the bandit occupation of Russia. I
doubt that anyone in this auditorium would tolerate such interference
on their land."

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk could not resist a jab
of his own against Russia. "Ukraine will reject any attempt to draw
parallels between the problem of Kosovo and the unsettled conflicts
on the territory of the GUAM countries," he said, joining the polemic
against Moscow, which insists that, if Kosovo is given independence,
the regional conflicts in the CIS should be settled the same way.

Preemptive Strike

Moscow, having suffered a number of delicate setbacks, prefers to
pretend that GUAM’s successes do not upset it. Commenting on the
inclusion of the frozen conflicts in the former USSR on the agenda of
the 61st General Assembly session, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey
Lavrov said that it was not evidence of the UN’s interest in the
problem, since on 16 states voted for it, while the rest were either
against it or abstaining.

The meeting of the GUAM foreign ministers did not go uncommented
on either. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov said of it that
"Georgia is trying to take advantage of the military potential of
GUAM to replace Russian peacekeepers in Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

The presence of additional forces on the territory of Georgia allows
it to flex its muscles anytime it feels like it, as it did recently
in the Kodor Gorge, and it gives it the opportunity to take advantage
of them as an additional card to play in the standoff with Sukhumi
and Tskhinvali." Ivanov made it clear that they are ready for that
in Moscow. "Russia supports a settlement of the existing conflicts
only through political methods and it will find adequate measures to
prevent the development of a situation in that scenario," he warned.

Moscow’s patronage of the unrecognized republics is the cause of
the GUAM countries aggressive rhetoric. Moldova and Georgia, which
are dealing with the separatism, are seriously concerned that Russia
will be able to gain recognition for the regions that reject them. A
referendum has already been held in Transdniestria in which 97 percent
of the residents voted for independence and subsequent unification
with Russia. South Ossetia will hold an analogical plebiscite in
November. A source in the Moldovan government admitted to Kommersant
that the current GUAM offensive could be considered a preemptive
strike. There have been fears in Chisinau recently that Moscow will
begin procedures to recognize Transdniestria based on the results
of the referendum. "Moscow’s strategic goal," the source said, "is
to change the political course of Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia. They
want those countries to coordinate all of their foreign policy steps
with Russia. That is how the Kremlin defines its influence in the
former Soviet Union. They need to direct a friendly chorus of voices
in the post-Soviet republics and force them to share their point of
view. The frozen conflicts are an influence factor.

CONTACTS:
Brian Kabateck
Mark Geragos
Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP
Geragos & Geragos
213-217-5000 213 625-3900
[email protected]
[email protected]

Dian e Zakian Rumbaugh Vartkes Yeghiayan
Rumbaugh Public Relations Yeghiayan & Associates
805-493-2877
818-242-7400

rumbaugh@ear thlink.net
[email protected]

PRESS RELEASE September 26, 2006

ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE VICTIMS
APPLAUD GOV. SCHWARZENEGGER’S SIGNING OF SB 1524

LOS ANGELES, CALIF.–Attorneys representing the heirs of
Armenian Genocide victims whose family assets were inappropriately held
for decades by German banks are welcoming yesterday’s signing by
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California Senate Bill 1524. The law
enables families to seek legal action to recover assets lost or stolen
as a result of the American Genocide.

The attorneys, all of Armenian decent, are Brian Kabateck,
partner with Kabateck Brown Kellner, Mark Geragos, partner with Geragos
& Geragos and Vartkes Yeghiayan of Yeghiayan and Associates. The
attorneys filed a lawsuit earlier this year against Deutsche Bank and
Dresdner Bank, two German banks they say wrongfully held Armenian assets
and froze Armenian bank accounts during the Armenian Genocide that began
in 1915. (Varoujan Deirmenjian, et. al. v. Deutsche Bank, A.G., Dresdner
Bank, A.G., et. al., Case No. CV 06-00774, U.S. District Court, Central
District of California).

Under the new law, Armenian Genocide victims, heirs or beneficiaries who
live in California can bring or continue a court action against a
financial institution for its failure to pay or turn over deposited or
looted assets. The statute of limitation for filing a claim is December
31, 2016.

"Deutsche Bank and Dresdner Bank were approached by Turkish
leaders to store Armenian artwork, gold and other valuables that were
illegally seized by the Turks during the Armenian Genocide," says
Kabateck. "The assets and the money deposited by Armenians in these
banks mysteriously disappeared and were considered lost for decades.
With most of the rightful owners massacred, these banks apparently
thought they could get away with stealing family assets from an entire
generation of Armenians. A new generation of Armenians has set out to
right this wrong."

"We applaud Gov. Schwarzenegger’s efforts to recognize the
atrocities of the Armenian Genocide and to hold accountable those who
benefited from the terrible acts that occurred so long ago," says
Geragos.

The class action suit estimates that the banks took more
than $22.5 million in looted assets, based on 1915 dollars. "We assume
banks have a fiduciary duty to ensure its customers’ deposited assets
and securities are protected," says Yeghiayan. "This duty was ignored
for 90 years by the German banks. This new law will shine a light on a
shameful act of wrongdoing and greed."

###

INTERIOR TROOPS’ SPECIAL FORCES SUITABLE FOR MILITARY OPERATIONS IN KARABAKH

Today, Azerbaijan
URL:
Sept 26 2006

Commander of Interior Troops Zakir Hasanov: "I advocate public and
democratic control on the Army."

The APA interviewed Commander of Interior Troops, General Lieutenant
Zakir Hasanov.

Azerbaijan has professional Interior Troops who are ready to fulfill
errands given by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. The main thing is that
our military personnel know their duties very well and ready to fulfill
them. The Interior Troops’ officers are mastering experiences of both
military body and law enforcement bodies. We are working on this issue.

What countries and international organizations do the Interior Troops
cooperate with?

We have been closely cooperating with Turkey’s Gendarmerie since
1997. Under the protocol, Turkey supports equipping, training of
personnel of the Interior Troops. Our Troops meet modern standards by
the assistance of the Turkish Gendarmerie. We are also cooperating
with China, Italy, Russia, U.S., Germany, Romania as well as with
NATO and FIEP. We conduct joint trainings. Our main task is to conform
the Interior Troops to European standards.

The assessment mission from the Association of the European and
Mediterranean Police Forces and Gendarmeries with Military Status
(FIEP) has visited Azerbaijan recently. What do you expect from the
talks. When do you think the Interior Troops will become FIEP member?

The FIEP assessment group familiarized with the service,
professionalism and social condition of the Interior Troops. They
get a certain idea of the Troops. The assessment group is preparing
a report for the member countries. This report will be discussed at
the FIEP secretariat and the decision on membership will be discussed
at the meeting of FIEP authorities.

Are there any plans on increase of defense expenditure?

The logistics of the Interior Troops is in high level. Great majority
of social problems have been solved in the past two years thanks to
the head of state’s and Interior Minister Ramil Usubov’s care. The
personnel, in particular soldiers of the Troops have been ensured
wide opportunities today. All the military units and military camps
meet modern standards. We opened a hostel for officers in Baku in the
past one year. The construction of hostels in Sheki and Guba is about
to be completed. We also established a holiday-resort for officers
in Nabran. 136 billion manats (AZM) have been allocated for us from
the budget. Our budget is increasing every year. We are planning to
implement social programs in 2007-2008.

Some countries benefit from the opportunities of Interior Troops and
similar bodies in solving problems like the Nagorno Karabakh problem.

How do you assess the Interior Troops’ preparation for operation
against the separatist forces in Karabakh?

Besides, the separatist regime, there are Armenian Armed Forces in
Nagorno Karabakh. If there were only separatist forces, the Nagorno
Karabakh conflict could have been solved in a short period of time.

It is not so difficult to neutralize a small gangster. We had to
resist large-scale forces of Armenia and their supporters. They have
been supplied with heavy weapons and therefore, they can be defeated
by large-scale military operations. However, the Interior Troops
are prepared to interfere in this armed conflict any time. We have
high professionalism, equipment and first of all high spirit in our
military personnel. We will also undertake responsibilities if the war
starts. These responsibilities can be neutralization and disarmament of
gangsters in the liberated territories, patrol services or organizing
diversions behind the enemy to support our army’s attack in mountainous
areas and so on. Our operation regiments can be involved in the
battles together with the Army. The special forces of Interior Troops
are being trained to be suitable for military operations in Karabakh.

However, the special forces are said to be used as riot squads to
suppress rallies and unrests most of all.

These forces are used to fight both armed crimes and preserve public
order. Their professionalism is always on focus. Our special forces are
cooperating with Turkish Gendarmerie. Our officers attend training
courses in Turkey. As coming to rallies, The Interior Troops do
not engage in politics, their function is to defend our state from
criminal and outlaw attempts. We participate only in preventing mass
unrests. The practice shows some outlaw forces organize mass unrests.

We are ready to fulfill our duty. I am convinced that no outlaw force
can violate stability in Azerbaijan today.

The Military Prosecutor’s Office says there is a high level corruption
in the Armed Forces. Is there such a problem in the Interior Troops?

I am not informed of the processes in other bodies. There should be
a strong control to prevent corruption. No officer or ensign of the
Interior Troops has been called to account for corruption or bribery
since 2002. The Troops are being overseen by the Interior Ministry
and several other bodies. The officers of the Prosecutor’s Office
regularly visit our military units. Corruption is unacceptable in a
military body.

The Council of Europe is also concerned over events contrary to
the Regulations of Armed Forces. What actions are taken to remove
such events?

Legal framework prevents contrary to the Army’s Regulations. If there
is a right behavior to a soldier, there will be no problem. We need
to cooperate with parents. Our body is open to parents. We invite
parents of soldier to the military units every weekend, and I attend
these meetings too. We advocate public and democratic control on the
Army. Then the problems will be removed. Since, we are integrating
into Europe, this control is necessary.

Do the parents complain of something?

The complaints are due to leave and permission of soldiers to go
home for a short-term. Taking into account possible events, we cannot
allow soldiers to the city as they do not know the city well. They are
from province. We allow them in groups and take leave in accordance
with legislation. We rarely receive complaints on relationships
among soldiers.

What about the establishment of the peacekeeping party in the Interior
Troops?

A peacekeeping party is to be established in the Interior Troops in the
framework of the cooperation program with NATO. Preliminary measures
have been implemented for this. The officers have been trained,
staff meeting NATO standards has been established. The party has been
supplied with weapons and equipment. There remains some measures to
be implemented regarding purchasing of communication facilities that
are used in NATO forces. This problem will be addressed in the context
of mutual relations, and the peacekeeping party will be ready early
in 2007.

EP REPORT ON TURKEY TO BE DISCUSSED TODAY
By Cihan News Agency

Zaman Online, Turkey
Sept 26 2006

The controversial report on Turkey’s progress towards accession to
the E.U. will be discussed in the European Parliament (EP) General
Assembly on Tuesday.

The draft report prepared by Dutch rapporteur Camiel Eurlings is
at the top of today’s agenda of the EP General Assembly, which will
convene in Strasbourg this afternoon.

The provision, which makes the recognition of the so-called Armenian
genocide a precondition for Turkey’s E.U. membership, is expected to
be removed from the draft with motions. Certain amendments are also
expected to be made on the Cyprus issue in favor of Turkey.

The report also asserts that Turkey had committed genocide against
the Pontus Greeks and Assyrians.

Voting on the report is to take place on Wednesday.

CONFLICT BETWEEN GEORGIANS AND ARMENIANS TOOK PLACE IN JAVAKHK

PanARMENIAN.Net
25.09.2006 13:20 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ A conflict between young Armenians from
Samtskhe Javakhetia and Georgian soldiers took place at the road
to Bakuriani (Georgia). 6 Georgian military guarding a sector of
the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline stopped an Opel belonging to
22-year-old Vladimir Miradian. Checking the documents and finding
out that the driver and the passengers are Armenians and do not speak
Georgian the soldiers started insulting them. A brawl burst out between
the soldiers and Artyusha Iratsyan and Hambartsum Ovakiamian. The
soldiers started threatening with weapons, afterwards the young men
drove back to the village of Tabatskhuri, reported A-info.