TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2006
U.S. Middle Eastern Policy Needs Help and Positive Impulses from
Turkey – Azeri Politician

Source: Trend
Author: S.Ilhamgizi

10.11.2006

The U.S. Administration understands that it should not take any steps
annoying Turkey. Because tomorrow while withdrawing the American
troops from Iraq, they will need Turkey, Politician Rasim Musabeyov
informed Trend, commenting on the election of Nancy Pelosi, who has
been known with his pro-Armenian position, as the Speaker of the USA
House of Representatives.
He stressed that it is not worthy to await the recognition of the
separatist regime of Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of election of a
person who appeared with Armenian interests. It is not in the
disposal of the Speaker or House of Representatives. The Congress can
not demonstrate pro-Armenian position, with the initiative of the
Speaker. The Congress may demonstrate pro-Armenian position in
several spheres. `The USA is the only country that provides direct
humanitarian assistance to Nagorno-Karabakh. For instance, the volume
of this aid may be increased with the initiative of the Speaker,’ the
politician said. Touching upon the so-called `Armenian genocide’, he
underlined that the Congress has the authority to make a statement on
this issue. The document should be approved by the Senate and
President to come into force.
According to him, during the power of the democrats, the question of
`Armenian genocide’ was included into the agenda. `But at this time,
the President Bill Clinton forwarded a protest letter and the Speaker
closed this topic. The position of the government included that
discussing such question is contrary to the interests of the USA.
Generally the USA Administration understands that if it takes any
steps annoying Turkey, then tomorrow while withdrawing the American
troops from Iraq, they will need Turkey, but maybe they can not
receive this assistance from Turkey. In addition, the Middle Eastern
policy of the USA needs the help and positive impulses of Turkey. I
consider that the European lobby in the USA is stronger than the
Armenian lobby. And it is in favor of Turkey,’ Musabeyov underlined.
Musabeyov added that taking any steps in favor of the `Armenian
genocide’ in the USA will be aimed at putting pressure on Turkey.
The politician stressed that it does not need to exaggerate the
pro-Armenian position of the new Speaker Nancy Pelosi. `First of all,
she will serve the interests of the USA, and the pro-Armenian
position is in the third or fifth place,’ he said.

Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 10 2006
Musa Panahov: Vietnam-Armenia railway impossible without Azerbaijan
[ 10 Nov. 2006 17:43 ]
The decision, made at Korean conference of the United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, on laying a
railway line from Armenia to Vietnam is impossible to come true,
Azerbaijani Transportation Minister Musa Panahov told APA.
The commission Executive Secretary KIM Hak-Su told media that the
conference discussed issues concerning construction of
Armenia-Vietnam railway, intensification of the activities in
North-South transport corridor etc.
Mr. Panahov says Azerbaijan joined Trans-Asia Railway Convention at
the conference.
`Azerbaijan stipulated that Azerbaijan will not resume any relations
with Armenia until it withdraws its armed forces from Azeri lands and
sign a peace agreement. The railway line can’t come true with
Azerbaijan,’ he underscored. /APA/
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman Online, Turkey
Nov 10 2006
Armenians Pleased with Democrats’ Victory
By Zaman, Washington
Friday, November 10, 2006
zaman.com
The Armenian lobby in the United States is happy about the victory of
the Democrat Party in the congressional elections. Armenians find the
new Congress leaders closer to themselves and hope that the genocide
claims will pass into law.
A written statement released by the American Armenian Assembly (AAA)
expressed the Armenians’ satisfaction over Democrat Nancy Pelosi’s
new post as Speaker of the House.
Brian Ardouny, the executive director of AAA, said if the alleged
genocide passed in Congress, new opportunities would arise for them.
Sending a statement last month to Harut Sassounian, the owner of the
California Courier, Pelosi said she was in support of the Armenian
claims on genocide and added, `This initiative has the strong
supports of both parties in the House of Representatives. I will
continue backing these efforts in the 110th Congress.’
The American Armenian National Committee also remarked that they were
quite happy about Nancy Pelosi’s new post.
Preparing reports and maintaining files on politicians according to
the extent they support their allegations and making these public for
the Armenian people, the Armenian organizations in the country are
known to have been harboring hatred against President Bush and the
former chairman of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert for
not backing their unfounded claims.
The majority of those closer to the Armenian policies are from the
Democrat Party.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

AsiaNews.it, Italy
Nov 10 2006
Increasing Russian control of Iranian gas

Russia’s energy giant Gazprom takes over Iran-Armenia gas pipeline;
Russian government is interested in participating in
Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. From Moscow Iranian nuclear
negotiator threatens to review Iran’s ties with IAEA if Russian
amendments are not included in Security Council draft resolution on
his country’s nuclear programme.

London (AsiaNews) – Whilst Tehran is threatening to `re-examine’ its
relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if the
United Nations accepts a draft resolution proposed by the EU3 group
(UK, France and Germany) without Russia’s amendments, Russia’s giant
energy company Gazprom is picking up energy deals. In the latest one,
it bought control in a gas pipeline project between Iran and Armenia.
The Russian government is also getting involved in another project
that would see a pipeline bring gas from Iran to Pakistan and India.
All in all, these plans are worth billions of dollars if one
considers that Iran, which holds 18 per cent of the world’s known
reserves, is second biggest gas supplier after Russia.
Gazprom raised its stake in ArmRosGaz, a company that controls both
Armenia’s domestic gas distribution business and the
soon-to-be-completed gas pipeline from Iran, to 58 per cent.
Last year it had signed an agreement with the Armenian government
under which Armenia would have to pay only US$ 110 per cubic metre of
gas or about half the market price. In doing so, Gazprom will run
Iranian gas supplies to Europe, rid itself of a potential competitor
and achieve near monopoly in gas supplies to Western Europe.
`We hope to use the joint venture to become involved in extraction
and development [of Iranian gas],’ Alexander Medvedev, deputy
chairman of Gazprom, told The Times. And there is a lot of extraction
and development to do. Analysts in fact believe that 62 per cent of
Iran’s potential gas reserves – estimated at 27,000 billion cubic
metres – remain undeveloped.
But that is not all. Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Murli
Deora said that Russia was keen to participate in all aspects of the
proposed multi-million dollar Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline
project.
In a recent visit to Moscow, Mr Deora said that Russia’s Industry and
Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko expressed his country’s interest in
participating `in the technical and financial aspects of the proposed
Iran gas pipeline’
A final decision about this undertaking, with both Pakistan and India
as active participants, will be taken by the two governments and that
of Iran at a meeting yet to be scheduled but expected to be announced
in the next few days.
At the same time, Iran has made it clear that nuclear fuel production
will remain part of its energy strategy notwithstanding any
disagreement with the IAEA.
>From Moscow where he is currently on a visit, Ali Larijani, secretary
of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council and Iran’s top nuclear
negotiator, said that Iran would review its ties with the
International Atomic Energy Agency if the draft resolution presented
in the last few days by the United Kingdom, France and Germany was
approved.
Russia has for its part submitted some amendments to the draft
proposal, which calls for sanctions, whose effects would be to lessen
its punitive aspects.

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
NKR BUDGET OWN REVENUES INCREASED BY ONE-THIRD
January-September, 2006 the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic /NKR/ state
budget own revenues made 6 milliards 846 millions drams, which is 34,
2 % more as compared with the same period last year.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR Ministry of
Finance and Economy, the budget revenues had been mainly ensured at
the expense of tax incomes, which made 81, 5 % of the revenues’ total
amount.
For the same period the state budget expenses made 16 milliards 981,
8 millions drams. During the 9 months of the current year 5 milliards
188, 2 millions drams were spent for capital expenditures, which is
70, 6 % more than the same period last year. As compared with the
same period 2005 current expenses for the salary of the state
institutions’ employees increased by 15, 5 % making 3 milliards 50, 4
millions drams.
For January – September, 2006 the NKR social insurance state fund’s
own revenues made 1 milliard 809 millions drams, which is 15, 3 %
more than the level of the same period last year.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS ON ARMENIAN ISSUES MEMBERS LIKELY TO HOLD
IMPORTANT POSITIONS AT THE U. S. CONGRESS
One day after winning majority control in the House of
Representatives, Democrats took back the U.S. Senate, with Armenian
issues supporters Senators Harry Reid (D-NV) and Richard Durbin
(D-IL) positioned to serve as Majority Leader and Majority Whip
respectively, in the 110th Congress. Senator Joseph Biden, Jr.
(D-DE), also a staunch supporter, is expected to chair the powerful
Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which oversees policy concerning
Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh.
All three Senators have raised awareness of the Armenian Genocide as
cosponsors of S. Res. 320, a resolution reaffirming the U.S. record
which is currently pending before the Foreign Relations Committee.
Reid, Durbin and Biden also voted to maintain Section 907 of the
Freedom Support Act in an historic Senate floor fight in 1999 of
which, Senators Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Paul Sarbanes (D-MD) led
the effort in maintaining Section 907 at that time. Sarbanes
announced his retirement from the Senate earlier this year and did
not seek re-election. The Assembly awarded him for his longstanding
support of Armenian issues during the National Advocacy Conference
and Banquet in March of this year.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), AAA Executive Director Bryan Ardouny said, `’The
Assembly will continue its bipartisan approach in the Senate and
looks forward to working with our Senate friends, as well as reaching
out to the new class of incoming Senators. We have much at stake and
will continue to promote an aggressive agenda to ensure a strong,
prosperous and democratic Armenia.”
Ardouny also noted that Reid and Durbin, along with House
Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who is
running for Majority Leader, have been consistent supporters of
Armenian issues. Their anticipated leadership positions in the next
Congress will provide new
opportunities for advancing key issues.
Several other Armenian issues supporters are slated to chair full
committees, including Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) – Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions; John Kerry (D-MA) – Small Business and
Entrepreneurship; Carl Levin (D-MI) – Armed Services; Tim Johnson
(D-SD)
– Select Committee on Ethics and others.
Senator George Allen (R-VA), an ardent supporter of Armenian issues,
conceded his re-election bid today, while Congressional Caucus on
Armenian Issues Members Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Benjamin Cardin
(D-MD) both won seats in the Senate. Brown and Cardin both voted for
Section 907 in the House floor fight in 1998 and support
Armenia-specific legislation in the current Congress. Senator Robert
Menendez (D-NJ) was re-elected for a second term, while Republican
Rick Santorum was defeated in Pennsylvania’s Senate contest.

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
Aliyev named `Man of the Year’ in the country of `Orange Revolution’
10.11.2006 17:01
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev was awarded the `Man of the Year’
international prize of Ukraine. The decision was taken by the supreme
academic council of the `Man of the Year – 2006′ national program,
`Trend’ agency reports.
The mid-term results of the decision were announced by Academician of
the National Academy of Sciences Vladimir Seminozhenko. According to
his information, the international prize in the sphere of
socio-political activity will be awarded to the President of
Azerbaijan.

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
President awards medals to community heads
10.11.2006 16:53
President Robert Kocharyan handed medals to a number of
representatives of the self-governance sphere. According to
President’s decree of 9 November, on the occasion of the 10th
anniversary of self-governance bodies of Armenia and for considerable
contribution to the development of communities Anania Shirakatsi
medals were awarded to Head of Kentron community of Yerevan Gagik
Beglaryan, Head of Erebuni community Mher Sedrakyan, Head of
Margahovit village Seyran Ananyan, Head of Merdzavan village Levon
Grigoryan, Mayor of Hrazdan Aram Danielyan, Head of Voskevan village
Emma Hakobyan, Mayor of Gyumri Gevorg Malkhasyan, Head of Agarak
village Razmik Martirosyan, Head of Malishka village Mher Movsisyan,
Mayor of Ashtarak Gagik Muradyan and Head of Aragats village Gagik
Poghosyan.
Handing the awards, the President congratulated on the occasion of
the 10th anniversary of self-governance bodies.
Robert Kocharyan expressed willingness to know the assessments of
community heads of the problems, development traits and process of
local self-governance.
Noting that the activity of communities will be more effective in
case all the community issues are resolved by communities themselves,
Robert Kocharyan said year by year the government delegates certain
liabilities to local self-governance bodies.
During the meeting discussions were launched on the territorial
policy, the further deeds of local self-governance bodies and
development of communities.

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
Turkey expands property rights of non-Muslim communities
10.11.2006 14:32
The Turkish Parliament has adopted a law, which expands the property
rights of non-Muslim communities of the country. Thus, Ankara has
fulfilled the recurrent requirement of the European Union on
reinforcement of minority rights.
The new law to be still signed by the President allows the Christian
Greek and Armenian, as well as the Jewish communities to demand
return of the property confiscated in 1974 by the Turkish state.

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 10 2006
Bogdan Borusewicz: The Karabakh conflict should be resolved based on
principles of international law
10.11.2006 13:47
`There is contradiction between two principles of settlement of the
Karabakh conflict. The first one is the principle of territorial
integrity. The second is the right of self-determination of peoples.
The conflict should be resolved based on the combination of these two
principles,’ Polish Senate Marshal Bogdan Borusewicz said in a press
conference in Baku.
`Poland is not party to the conflict, and I’m not a representative of
any of the sides. But I think that this conflict should be resolved
in a peaceful way, and the only possibility of the settlement of the
conflict is adherence to the provisions set by the OSCE Minsk Group.
The Group has correctly determined the steps that need to be taken
for the resolution of the conflict,’ added the Polish Senate Marshal.
Bogdan Borusewicz repeated the suggestion he made in Yerevan earlier
this week, when he had declared that Poland is ready to act as a
mediator to reduce the tension between Turkey and Armenia.