FRANCE SAYS NO WORD FROM TURKEY ON MILITARY FREEZE
By Francois Murphy
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006
PARIS, Nov 16 (Reuters) – France said on Thursday it had received no
word from Turkey on Ankara’s suspension of bilateral military ties,
the latest step in a row over whether Armenians suffered genocide at
the hands of Ottoman Turks.
General Ilker Basbug, head of Turkish land forces, said on Wednesday
Ankara was suspending military ties with Paris in protest at the
French parliament’s support for a bill making it a crime to deny that
the killings were genocide.
“To my knowledge, we have not received official word from the Turkish
authorities on this subject,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman
Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.
The French Defence Ministry said it had only heard of the move through
the media and called for caution until Ankara told Paris exactly what
was happening.
“I think we should not prejudge the evolution of these relations. It is
not the sign of a crisis or of a major difficulty,” Defence Ministry
spokesman Jean-Francois Bureau told reporters, adding the Turkish
government had said nothing.
The French National Assembly approved the Armenian bill last month,
triggering threats of a trade boycott by Turkey, which strongly
rejects the claims that Ottoman Turks committed genocide against
Armenians during World War One.
The French bill is unlikely to make it into law because it is opposed
by President Jacques Chirac, but many Turks see it as further proof
that opponents of its bid to join the European Union are gaining the
upper hand.
NATO said Turkey had assured it that the freeze would not affect
alliance operations.
NO CONSEQUENCES YET
The two NATO allies work side by side in the Afghan capital Kabul as
part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF),
which is battling Taliban insurgents in a mission NATO says is vital
to its credibility.
“Our initial understanding is that the Turkish decision will not
affect NATO. It is focused on bilateral military activities, not NATO
operations,” NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
He said that assessment was based on statements by the Turkish
delegation at NATO and ISAF officials.
France’s Bureau said there had been a “cooling” in military
relations with Turkey in 2001 after the French parliament passed a
law recognising the 1915 killings as genocide, but they had returned
to normal since then.
“I think we should not consider that we are in a totally new
situation. We have already known periods of cooling in bilateral
relations. Until now, I do not see why that would change. They have
never taken on a definitive character,” he said.
“We have no practical consequences to date of the announcement made
last night,” he added.
French defence firms view NATO member Turkey, which has a fast-growing
economy, as a lucrative market for their hardware.
(Additional reporting by Mark John in Brussels)

RAILWAY TRAIN WITH GRTT EQT LEAVES TBILISI FOR ARMENIA
ITAR-TASS, Russia
Nov 16 2006
TBILISI, November 16 (Itar-Tass) – An ahead-of-schedule removal of
the equipment and hardware of the Tbilisi garrison of the Group of
Russian Troops in the Transcaucasus (GRTT) began Thursday, an officer
at the GRTT headquarters here has told Itar-Tass.
The officer said, “The first railway train with hardware and equipment
is heading for Armenia, to the Russian military base at Gyumri”.
Another train will go to Russia via Azerbaijan in one week’s time, on
November 23. Before the year is out, two more trainloads of hardware
and equipment of the Tbilisi garrison of the GRTT will be removed,
one to Armenia and the other one to Russia.
The timetable for the pullout of the Tbilisi garrison of the GRTT has
been fixed with the Georgian side, which, in line with the existing
accords, ensures the safety of the removal of the garrison’s hardware
and servicemen.
“A small group of GRTT staff officers will be set up to stay on in
Georgia next year as well, at the Russian military bases at Akhalkalaki
and Batumi, to finalize the bases’ removal process,” the officer said.
The earlier-than-planned pullout of the Tbilisi garrison of the GRTT,
which is being carried out by a decision of the Russian Ministry of
Defence, is to be completed before the end of this year.
In all, 100 hardware units, 350 tonnes of equipment and ammunition,
as well as 387 servicemen will be relocated.
In keeping with the Georgian-Russian accords, the Akhalkalaki base
will be closed down before October 1, 2007, and the one at Batumi
will be wound up before October 1, 2008.

GOVT SAYS ARMENIAN BROTHERS NOT IN THE COUNTRY
By Carol Gakii
Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Kenya
Nov 16 2006
The government has Thursday dispelled allegations that the alleged
Artur brothers are back in the country.
Government Spokesman Dr. Alfred Mutua has dismissed allegations by
Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga as baseless and asked Kenyans not to fall
for such claims.
He said the foreigners will never be allowed back into the country,
adding that reports by the Kiruki Commission would soon be made public.
Early this week, Raila alleged that the foreigners were back in
the country.
At the same time, Mutua said the government is committed to providing
security to all Kenyans.
He said security operations were underway in parts of the country
that have recently been hit by clashes.
Mutua urged Kenyans to support the government in the fight against
organized crime.

ARMENIAN BUSINESSMEN COME TO ISTANBUL FOR INVESTMENTS
By Ercan Baysal
Zaman, Turkey
Nov 16 2006
As the reactions to French parliament’s controversial Armenian genocide
bill continue, the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen Association
(TUSIAD) is taking the initiative to loosen tension between Armenia
and Turkey.
Members of TUSIAD and the Union of Businessmen and Manufacturers of
Armenia (UMBA) do not want France’s stance to overshadow relations so
they will come together in Istanbul. UMBA was officially invited to
the Black Sea and Caspian Industrialists Confederation Union meeting
on Nov. 27.
TUSIAD president, Omer Sabanci, and UMBA chairman Arsen Ghazarian
will also discuss their countries’ relations besides regular business
negotiations.
Kaan Soyak, the Turkish-Armenian co-chair of the Council on Development
of Economic Ties said Ghazaryan will invite TUSIAD members to Armenia
to invest in textile, energy and telecommunication sectors.
Soyak said this meeting was important for Russia and the Armenian
Diaspora:
“Turkey has become an attractive market thanks to the atmosphere
of stability. Armenians in the Diaspora want to make investments in
Turkey mostly in hotels, real estate and port sectors. They have made
their applications to our council in this regard. These issues will
be discussed during the meeting.”
“Armenia is a virgin market, right now they only have relations with
Iran so we want Turkish investors there too,” said Soyak and added
that this kind of commercial relationship could diffuse the tension
between the two countries.
Trade between Turkey and Armenia takes place unofficially via Iran.
According to unofficial statistics, the total trade volume between
the two countries reached $200 million dollars.
The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) noted the
Turkey-Armenia embargo costs about $570-720 million dollars to Armenia
every year.
If the border gates were opened, Armenia’s transportation costs would
drop by about 30-50 percent, its export volume would double and its
Gross National Product would increase by about 30-38 percent.
According to World Bank statistics, Armenia’s savings in transportation
costs would be about $6.4-8.4 million dollars, energy saving would
be $45 million and its export volume would increase by about $269-342
million dollars. In this way Armenia’s total benefit from the opening
of the border would be about $320-396 million dollars.

TURKEY: ARMENIAN GENOCIDE ISSUE SPURS GOVERNMENT ACTION
AKI, Italy
Nov 16 2006
Istanbul, 16 Nov. (AKI) – Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul has
suggested Turkey may seek the opinon of an independent international
panel on the controversial Armenian genocide issue. “Retired diplomats
and reliable foreign law experts are studying the case”, Gul said
on Wednesday. The remarks come amid growing pressure on Turkey to
acknowledge the early 20th century massacre or Armenians under the
Ottomans. Last month the French senate approved a bill which would make
it a criminal offence to deny that the deaths amounted to genocide.
Observers have also suggested that last week’s victory in US
congressional elections by the Democrats – who have closer ties with
pro-Armenian lobbies in America – could mean an end in Washington’s
current acquiescence to Ankara on the subject.
In 2004 Turkey tried to establish a joint Turkish-Armenian commission
of academics to study the issue, but the initiative failed when
Armenia rejected the proposal.
If Armenia accepts Turkey’s latest proposal, then the case would
be examined before the Internatonal Court of Justice in The Hague,
Netherlands. A commission would be set up consisting of, an equal
number of Turkish and Armenian judges and would be chaired by a
national of a third country.
The commission would examine archives in Turkey, Armenia, Russia,
the United States, France, Germany and Britain. It would also examine
military records, demographic changes, hospital records dating from
the time of the killings mostly from 1915-20.
Still, not all the signs from Turkey have been reconciliatory. Also
on Wednesday Turkish land forces commander Gen. Ilker Basbug said
Turkey would cut all top level military contacts with the French
military on account of the Armenian genocide bill which still needs
to be approved by the French National Assembly, the lower house of
parliament, before it becomes law.

TURKEY SEVERS MILITARY TIES WITH FRANCE
United Press International
Nov 16 2006
ANKARA, Turkey, Nov. 16 (UPI) — Turkey has severed military ties
with France over a century-old dispute involving the alleged slaughter
of Armenians.
At issue is the French Parliament’s adoption of a draft bill that
makes it a crime to deny Turks committed genocide against Armenians
in the late Ottoman period during World War I, the Cihan news agency
reported Thursday.
While the bill still requires the approval of the French Senate and
president to become law, Turkish Land Forces commander, Gen. Ilker
Basbug said he was following the Turkish parliament’s lead.
“There are no high-level (military) visits between the two countries,”
Basbug said.
Last month, Turkey’s Grand National Assembly issued a declaration
denouncing France’s insistence of genocide.
“The French National Assembly has not only inflicted great damage on
bilateral ties but has also dealt a blow to efforts to normalize our
ties with Armenia,” the declaration said.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

RUSSIA WITHDRAWING TBILISI GARRISON AHEAD OF TIME
Interfax, Russia
Nov 16 2006
MOSCOW. Nov 16 (Interfax-AVN) – The withdrawal of the Tbilisi garrison
of the Russian Forces in the South Caucasus started on Thursday,
a representative of the forces’ command told Interfax-AVN by phone.
“The first train carrying military hardware and property of the
Tbilisi garrison departed for the 102nd Russian Military Base in
Gyumri, Armenia, on Thursday. Only the headquarters personnel of the
Russian Forces in the South Caucasus will remain in Tbilisi after
December 10,” he said.
“The second train will leave Tbilisi for Russia on November 23, the
third train will depart for Russia on December 1, and another train
to Gyumri is scheduled for December 10,” the source said.
All trains will go to Russia through Azerbaijan, which signed an
agreement on military cargo transit with Russia, the source said.

VIMPELCOM CEO: ARMENIA, GEORGIA CAPEX IN LINE WITH STRATEGY
Cellular-News, UK
Nov 16 2006
NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Dow Jones) — Capital expenditure plans for Georgia
and Armenia will generally follow OAO Vimpel Communications’ pattern of
investment in second-tier countries, Chief Executive Officer Alexander
Izosimov told Dow Jones Newswires on Wednesday.
That is to say $100 per subscriber, Izosimov said. He added that the
company could reach one million subscribers – and $100 million in
expenditures – in both countries in about 36 months.
Izosimov said he couldn’t disclose more specific numbers or timeframes
at the moment.
In the case of Armenia, the deal in that country has just won approval
from the Armenian government and it is too early to talk about set
numbers, Izosimov said.
“We are very happy to see the Armenian government give its blessings,”
he said. “We have yet to finalize a capex plan.”
VimpelCom last week bought 90% of Armenian operator Armentel from
Greece’s Hellenic Telecommunications Organization SA or OTE, for
EUR341.9 million in cash and EUR40 million in debt. The deal met
official approval last week.
Izosimov was in New York to celebrate the company’s 10th anniversary
of listing in the New York Stock Exchange. VimpelCom, as it is more
commonly known, is Russia’s No. 2 mobile phone provider after OAO
Mobile TeleSystems, or MTS.
“We already entered key markets” outside Russia, such as Ukraine,
he said. “We’re now going through the second-tier (countries)” and
Armenia and Georgia are important for the company’s strategy in the
Caucasus region, Izosimov said.
In terms of measuring its growth, the company is now focusing on
“real, quality subscribers” rather than raw subscriber numbers based
on phone card sales.
Real subscribers are people who not only buy mobile phone cards but
also use them in a chargeable transaction in three months’ time,
he said.
“Our aspiration is leadership,” Izosimov said. “We are very close,
we are a stone’s throw from closing the gap.”
Izosimov said relations between Russia and Georgia aren’t interfering
with company’s business in Georgia.
Relations between the two countries have become strained, with Georgia
recently vowing to reduce its dependence on Russian gas and in an
apparent effort to counteract pressure from its neighbor.
“It has not affected at all. We enjoy great support from the (Georgian)
government,” he said.
In September, VimpelCom posted a 23% rise in second-quarter net
profit, driven by price increases and tight cost controls. Net profit
increased to $194.9 million from $158.8 million a year earlier,
and revenue rose 46% to $1.12 billion from $769.8 million.
Shares of VimpelCom in New York were down 0.2% at $66.50 in early
afternoon trade Wednesday, when most Russian American Depositary
Receipts were seeing red.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

CEASE-FIRE REGIME BETWEEN AZERBAIJAN AND ARMENIAN IS BROKEN
Author: Sh. Jaliloghli
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006
Today, units of Armenian Forces have broken the cease-fire regime on
the contact line, Trend Regional Correspondent reports.
It started at 10:00 a. m. and lasted for 30 minutes. Shots came from
the positions located in the occupied Azerbaijani Village of Talish
of Tartar District. The enemy was stifled by the back fire. Neither
victims nor injures have been reported.
Employees of “Lider” TV Channel were taping the cease-fire line in
the village of Borsunlu of Tartar District of Azerbaijan. Units of
Armenian Forces subjected “Lider” TV Special Correspondent Gabil
Aslanoghli and Operator Ilgar Farmanli to gun fire as well.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR: SCIENTISTS THAT RAISED AN ISSUE OF GEORGIAN GENOCIDE COMMITTED BY ARMENIANS, HAVE WEIGHTED GROUNDS UNDER IT
Author: A. Ismayilova
TREND, Azerbaijan
Nov 16 2006
I think that the scientists who appealed to the Georgian President,
Mikhail Saakashvili to acknowledge the Genocide of Georgians committed
by Armenians had certain grounds under it, Zurab Gumberidze, the
Georgian Ambassador to Azerbaijan, said, Trend reports.
Last week, 60 members of the Georgian National Assembly, which consist
of scientists and intellectuals, have appealed to the President Mikhail
Saakashvili with a request to acknowledge the Genocide committed by
Armenians in Georgia.
The appeal points out that in 1993, Armenian military force “Bagramyan”
jointly with Abkhazians fought against Georgia Army. It resulted in
killings of many Georgians living in Abkhazia. “No Armenian had lived
in Georgian Javakhetia until the Czar of Russia settled Armenians on
this territory. Many Armenians claim Javakhetia as part of Armenia
on their maps. All this is of a systematical character, and therefore
that must be acknowledged as the Genocide against Georgian people. MP
of the Pro-Georgian Supreme Council of Abkhazia Akakiy Gasviani made
an announcement where he supported this step, and marked the role of
Armenians in occupying the Georgian territories and establishing the
separatist regime in Abkhazia
The Georgian Ambassador guesses that the Georgian President will take
a corresponding decision.