Author: Vorskanian Yeghisabet

Prison terms for anti-Armenian protesters “too harsh”: Azeri president
Agence France Presse — English
September 2, 2004 Thursday
NAKHCHEVAN, Azerbaijan Sept 2 — Prison sentences handed down by a
court in Azerbaijan to a group of hardline anti-Armenian protesters
are too harsh, Azeri leader Ilham Aliyev said Thursday.
“As president I cannot interfere in the decision of the court but as
a citizen I believe that the punishment is not appropriate to their
crime,” Aliyev told reporters.
“It is a very harsh punishment and I, as a citizen, cannot support it,”
he said on a visit to the province of Nakhchevan in western Azerbaijan.
Aliyev added that he hoped the prison sentences would be overturned
on appeal.
Earlier this week, six protesters were sentenced to between three
and five years in jail for trying to storm a NATO conference in
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku.
The protesters had been demonstrating about the presence at the NATO
meeting of two officers from Armenia’s armed forces.
Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war in the early 1990s over the
disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The conflict displaced a
million civilians and left some 35,000 people dead.
The protesters’ case has become a cause celebre in Azerbaijan,
where the war, which ended with the Azeri side forfeiting control
over Nagorno-Karabakh, still rankles with many people.
There is growing public support for a renewal of hostilities to drive
Armenian forces out of Nagorno-Karabakh.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

A1 Plus | 19:58:41 | 01-09-2004 | Social |
THE CASE AGAINST A PPA MEMBER SUSPENDED
Today the Prosecutor’s Office of Erebuni-Nubarashen Commune has made
a decision to suspend the criminal case instituted against PPA member
Grisha Virabyan and to stop the criminal pursuit against him.
Virabyan was accused of resorting violence to a power representative.
“Liberty” Radio Station informs this.

Armenia says terrorists in N Ossetia challenged civilised world
By Tigran Liloyan
ITAR-TASS News Agency
September 1, 2004 Wednesday 2:21 PM Eastern Time
YEREVAN, September 1 — The news of the hostage-taking crisis in North
Ossetia raised feelings of indignation in Armenia, its President
Robert Kocharyan said in a message to Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Wednesday.
“By taking children hostage the terrorists challenged the whole
civilised world,” he said.
“At this hard time, the people of Armenia share the anguish and anxiety
of Russians. We strongly condemn any manifestation of terrorism and
express our support to the people and leadership of Russia in their
resolute fight against this evil,” the president said.

Azerbaijan court sentences NATO protesters
The News, Pakistan
Aug 31 2004
BAKU: A court in the former Soviet republic of Azerbiajan handed
out prison sentences Monday to protesters who had tried to storm
a conference of NATO officials in the Azeri capital two months
ago. The court found six protesters guilty of public order offences
and resisting arrest, and ordered that they should be sent to prison
for terms ranging from three to five years. The protesters had been
demonstrating about the presence at the NATO meeting of two officers
from Armenia’s armed forces. Armenia and Azerbaijan fought a war in
the early 1990s over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. The
two neighbouring countries remain at a state of war, though there
is no large-scale fighting. Among those sentenced Monday was Akif
Nagi, leader of the hardline Karabakh Liberation Organisation,
which favours new military action against Armenia. He was given five
years in jail. Supporters and relatives of the convicted men staged
a protest in the courtroom when the sentences were handed down but
police dispersed them.

Court in Azerbaijan sentences Nagorno-Karabakh activists to prison terms
AP Worldstream
Aug 30, 2004
An Azerbaijani court on Monday handed down prison sentences to six
protesters arrested in June for causing disturbances at a NATO forum
attended by Armenian officers.
The defendants conviced by a court in the capital Baku are members of
the Organization for the Liberation of Karakbakh, a group that opposes
ethnic Armenian control over Nagorno-Karabakh, a territory in
Azerbaijan that has been disputed since a war that ended in a decade
ago.
The organization’s head, Famil Nasibov, was sentenced to five years in
prison, his deputy Firidum Mammadov to three years, while three
members of the group’s youth branch received four-year
sentences. Their lawyers said they will appeal.
The protesters pushed through police cordons, broke glass doors and
stormed into a conference hall in Baku’ Europe hotel where a NATO
forum was being held in June, calling on Azerbaijan to stop
negotiating with neighboring Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The protesters and hotel security guards suffered minor injuries in
the incident in the hotel and the meeting resumed in several minutes.
Armenian-backed forces took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and
surrounding areas in a six-year war that killed some 30,000 people and
drove about a million from their homes.
A 1994 cease-fire has largely held, but no final settlement has been
reached, and the ongoing confrontation has hurt the economies of both
former Soviet republics.
Armenia and Azerbaijan are not NATO members, but both participate in
the alliance’s Partnership for Peace program.

Turkish Press
Aug 27 2004
Turkey: A `mediator’ Country
BYEGM: 8/27/2004
BY ZEYNEP GURCANLI
STAR- Only a few years ago, third countries used to act as mediators
between Turkey and its neighbors to resolve regional problems. For
example, the United States used telephone diplomacy in order to end
the Kardak crisis between Ankara and Athens, and Egypt did the same
to help Ankara and Damascus solve the so-called PKK problem.
Now, however, having managed to overcome its own crises, Turkey
itself is assuming such a role of mediation on the international
stage. Ankara’s only remaining problematic neighbor is Armenia.
Therefore, Turkey is gradually becoming a `mediator’ country in the
region.
The first case is the Arab-Israeli dispute. Ankara doesn’t have any
political problems with the Palestinians. Furthermore, despite the
recent chill between the Erdogan and Sharon governments, our country
doesn’t have any serious problems with Israel either. Ankara recently
announced that it was ready to act as a `facilitator’ in the Middle
East peace process. The Palestinians have immediately accepted
Turkey’s offer, while the Sharon government hasn’t rejected it.
During Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent visit to Tbilisi,
Turkey agreed to undertake another mediation role. The Georgian
president asked Erdogan’s help in normalizing his country’s relations
with Russia. Our premier pledged to discuss this issue with Russian
President Vladimir Putin, who is scheduled to visit Turkey next week.
In addition, a surprising request came from Sudan. Since 2003, Arab
militias have been launching systematic attacks on non-Arab tribes in
the country. Meanwhile, the international community is accusing the
Sudanese administration of turning a blind eye to these attacks and
even supporting these militias for the sake of `assimilating non-Arab
elements.’ Washington branded the incidents a `genocide.’ On his
visit to Ankara last month, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mustafa Osman
Ismael requested that Ankara act as a mediator between his country
and the US. This was also another unexpected request. Turkey then
took actions to help them overcome the crisis.
I believe the number of such cases where Turkey acts as negotiator
will rise in the months to come. Our country, once a party to many
regional crises, is now becoming a `crisis-resolving country’.

ArmenPress
Aug 27 2004
AZERI KARABAKH LIBERATION ORGANIZATION THREATENS TO STAGE MORE
RALLIES
BAKU, AUGUST 27, ARMENPRESS: The so called Karabakh Liberation
Organization (KLO) of Azerbaijan told a press conference, that unless
Azerbaijani authorities set free their “patriot” comrades who took
part in the actions of protest against participation of Armenians in
NATO military exercises in Baku, they will stage new rallies across
Azerbaijan.
According to Azeri Uch Nokta, KLO members released statements in
Azeri press saying that if their demands are not fulfilled they will
again stage new actions against participation of Armenians in the
upcoming NATO military exercises in Baku slated in September.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AzerNews, Azerbaijan
Aug 26 2004
Danish Consulate opens in Baku

The visit by the Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller to
Azerbaijan on August 23-24 was signified by the inauguration of the
Danish Consulate in Baku. On Monday Foreign Minister Elmar
Mammadyarov and Minister Moller discussed cooperation between the two
countries, the situation in the South Caucasus region
and around the world. “We have held useful discussions and considered
many facets of Azerbaijani-Danish collaboration in the political,
economic and humanitarian fields”, Mammadyarov told a news briefing
following the meeting. He said that also discussed were issues
related to the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over Upper Garabagh.
Mammadyarov added that over the past seven years the government of
Denmark has provided assistance worth $14 million to Azerbaijani
refugees and displaced persons. Danish Foreign Minister, in turn,
pointed out the strengthening ties between Denmark and Azerbaijan. He
said the two countries are collaborating in fighting international
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction and added that his visit to
Azerbaijan further proves this. With regard to possible facets of
bilateral cooperation, Moller spoke of interaction in the oil and
energy sectors, the use of Danish experience in environmental
protection in oil production on the Caspian Sea, developing
democratic entities and ensuring the rule of law in social life.
Denmark supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity
The Danish official also said that with the current tensions around
the world, Azerbaijan and Denmark stand side by side and collaborate
in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo, and in the area of combating weapons
of mass destruction and terrorism. “We (Denmark) are very interested
in this”, he said. Moller said that the Danish Honorary Consulate,
which opened in Azerbaijan on August 24, will be turned into an
embassy in the foreseeable future. Touching upon the Garabagh
conflict, the Danish Minister said that in general, the European
Union supports the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group in resolving the
problem. “The OSCE Minsk Group will find ways to settle the conflict
suitable for both sides”, he said. Moller stated that as an EU
member-state, Denmark has always supported Azerbaijan’s territorial
integrity in international organizations. “Denmark opposes forceful
occupation of land and supports a peace settlement of the conflict”,
he underlined. On Tuesday, Moller attended the opening ceremony of
the Danish Consulate. Moller completed his visit to Azerbaijan after
touring the Atashgah (fire worshippers site) in the Surakhany
district of Baku.
`Azerbaijan has great future’
President Ilham Aliyev said in a meeting with Minister Moller on
Monday that Azerbaijan is integrating into European organizations.
Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has been a full-fledge member of the
Council of Europe for over three years and noted that his country is
closely cooperating with influential international organizations,
including the European Union. The President underlined that
Azerbaijan has tremendous opportunities for expanding the relations
with Denmark and voiced a hope that the Danish minister’s visit to
Baku would further promote the EU-Azerbaijan relations. President
Aliyev stated that Azerbaijan is a country representing geo-strategic
importance in the region. He said that Armenia’s aggression against
Azerbaijan is a serious threat not only to his country but also for
peace and stability in the entire region. Moller, in turn, said his
first visit to Azerbaijan is of great importance for bilateral
relations. He expressed satisfaction with the meetings he held in
Baku and noted that Azerbaijan’s economic progress is important for
improving the nation’s welfare. “I believe that great future is in
store for Azerbaijan,” he said. The Danish official said that some
Danish companies are operating in the energy sector of Azerbaijan and
voiced his confidence that these companies will contribute to
developing the country’s economy. Moller also thanked President
Aliyev for Azerbaijan’s support for Denmark’s admission to the UN
Security Council.

Azeri Defence Ministry laments Russian-Armenian military exercises
525 Qazet, Baku
25 Aug 04

Text of Rasad Suleymanov’s report by Azerbaijani newspaper 525 Qazet
on 25 August headlined “Russia an invader Armenia start joint
exercises” and subheaded “Ramiz Malikov: We regret that the troops of
the occupying country and Russia, which mediates a settlement to the
Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, are holding joint exercises”
Armenian and Russian military units started joint exercises at the
Marshal Bagramyan military training centre yesterday. The deputy
defence minister of Armenia and chief of the General Staff, Col-Gen
Mikael Arutunyan, said that Armenia’s reinforced motorized-rifle
regiment and Russia’s 102nd military base stationed in Gyumri are
involved in the exercises that will last till 27 August.
Different weapons, artillery, fighters and bombers will be used during
the exercises. Arutunyan said that the aim of the exercises was to
examine the defensive capability of the troops.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the exercises were
being held within the framework of the Collective Security Treaty. He
also said that 5,000 servicemen are on active duty in the 102nd
military base, which is included in the North Caucasus Military
District.
An independent military expert, retired Col Ildirim Mammadov, thinks
that the joint Russian-Armenian exercises aim to create tension in the
South Caucasus. At the same time, this step is being taken as a
response to the ongoing events. “There have been ideas of late that
the USA will station military bases in the South Caucasus. On the
other hand, the developments in South Ossetia and the Georgian
president’s statements that the Georgian people should be ready for
war with Russia cannot but worry the Russians. In retaliation, Russia
is flexing its muscles in the Caucasus.”
Mammadov believes that the exercises might be held also in retaliation
for the command and staff exercises in Baku for the protection of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan main export pipeline. “The Russians are
unambiguously trying to disrupt this project. And their ally in this
effort could be only Armenia.”
Other experts also agreed that the exercises were a show of Russia’s
force in the Caucasus. They believe that these exercises serve the
ultimate goal of aggravating the situation in the South Caucasus.
The head of the press service of the [Azerbaijani] Defence Ministry,
Col Ramiz Malikov, says that the exercises are being held within the
framework of strategic partnership between Russia and Armenia. “On the
other hand, this is also a political issue. The Defence Ministry does
not comment on political issues. But anyhow, we regret that Russia,
which is a mediator in the OSCE Minsk Group dealing with the
settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagornyy Karabakh conflict, and
the troops of the occupying country are holding joint exercises.”

RIA Novosti, Russia
Aug 23 2004
NEW STEPANAKERT MAYOR ELECTED
YEREVAN, August 23 (RIA Novosti) – According to preliminary data,
Eduard Agabekyan, chairman of the permanent social commission of the
Nagorny Karabakh National Assembly, leader of the Movement-88
political organization, was elected mayor of Stepanakert, capital of
the unrecognized Nagorny Karabakh Republic.
Mr. Agabekyan collected 53.3% of votes in the second round of
elections yesterday, the press service of the Nagorny Karabakh
Foreign Ministry quoted the local Central Election Commission as
saying.
About 38.8% of voters supported former Vice Mayor of Stepanakert
Pavel Nadzharyan.
As compared to the first round, the voting activity grew by 10% and
totaled 51%, the election commission reported.
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry resolutely condemned the elections in
Nagorny Karabakh. According to the ministry, the elections to the
local self-government bodies cannot be considered legal as they
contradict the Azeri and international laws.
However, the Nagorny Karabakh Foreign Ministry regards the appeal to
Azerbaijan’s legislation “absolutely groundless”.
Secretary General of the Council of Europe Walter Schwimmer also
criticized the elections. He claimed the inadmissibility of local
elections in Nagorny Karabakh and recollected the previous appeal of
the Council of Europe to abstain from unilateral elections.
“Unilateral actions are counter-productive,” Mr. Schwimmer said.
Stepanakert officials said that his statement is far from modern
realia. “Nagorny Karabakh is a sovereign state, which has nothing to
do with Azerbaijan, and lives an independent life in the territory,
which has always belonged to Armenians,” the Nagorny Karabakh Foreign
Ministry stressed.
The Nagorny Karabakh authorities believe that the municipal elections
fully meet international laws implying the right of free elections.