HUNGARIAN APPEALS COURT JUDGE: RAMIL SAFAROV’S MOTIVES EXTENUATING
Azeri Press Agency, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
The motives that made Ramil Safarov to act this way are not ordinary.
The court should pay attention to them and consider as extenuating
circumstances,” the judge of Hungary Court of Appeal Andrash Braqyova
who is on visit to Azerbaijan told the journalists. Hungarian judge
said that Hungary press gives enough information about lifer Ramil
Safarov. Braqyova stressed that Armenian Diaspora’s interference to
the court affairs is inadmissible.
“I do not rule out any political declaration after court’s decision.
These declarations can even be made by Azerbaijani President.
According to the Hungary Legislation Ramil Safarov’s being granted
amnesty or pardon is possible only after trial will over,” he said.
It should be noted that the court will consider Ramil Safarov’s appeal
in spring next year.

NKR FM DISCUSSED KARABAKH SETTLEMENT IN GREECE
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
Early November the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic FM Georgy Petrossian
visited Greece to participate in the measures devoted to the 10th
Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide’s recognition by the Greek
Parliament.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the NKR MFA Press Service,
November 7 RA Parliament vice Speaker Vahan Hovhannisian and NKR FM
had met with the Greek Parliament vice Speaker Georgios Surlas.
The RA and NKR officials expressed their gratitude to the Greek
Parliament for the recognition of the Armenian Genocide in 1996. In his
turn Georgios Surlas dwelled on the policy of the ethnical cleansings
of Armenians and Greeks being pursued in the Osmanian Empire.
In the course of the meeting the parties also considered the issues
referring to extending friendly ties between Armenia and Greece and
the current stage of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict settlement process.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

OKTAY EKSI: THE EU COMMISSION’S “SHAMEFUL” REPORT
Hurriyet, Turkey
Nov 9 2006
The EU Commission’s progress report on Turkey, which had been prepared
for months, delayed once, and whose contents everyone was curious
about, was finally released yesterday. What the report revealed was
nothing too surprising, in fact, it went over things which were already
known. Like that we need ot bring our military-civilian relations in
line with EU standards.
It’s true-but in order bring about these standards in that arena,
the current political administration must leave off its policies which
carve away at the foundation of the secular republic. Unfortunately,
these policies continue. The main opposition CHP, which should be
the first in line to protect secularity, is content instead to stand
back and just regard secularity with love and respect. Which is why
the military steps in, saying “secularity is not a political matter,
but a basic part of life.”
Let’s hope the EU excuses us but…..in Turkey, with things the way
they are, there is no way military-civilian relations can be brought
to any level which is going to please the EU. And so, what will happen
if they don’t? Well, maybe Turkey won’t be able to get into the EU,
due to the role its military plays, but at least, and more importantly,
its secular order will stay in place.
Yesterday’s EU progress report on Turkey also issues a complaint about
the 301st article from the Turkish Penal Code, saying “it is being used
to limit expressions of thought which do not contain any violence.”
Maybe the EU has a free pass to comment on every matter there is,
but it was the EU itself who ignored Turkish protests on this 301st
article when it was first accepted in its current form. And now the
EU is ignoring the fact that even some of its member countries have
similar laws on their books. Most EU countries, including Austria,
France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium all have laws calling for jail
sentences for people denying the Holocaust, or who publish anti-semitic
work. Add to this the new tilt towards making it a crime to deny the
Armenian genocide allegations. Don’t all these things also fit into
the category of “limiting expressions of thought which don’t contain
any violence”? Which is why I say, let the EU first clean up its own
house before it takes on Turkey in this arena.
By this, I do not mean that we should protect the mistakes we have in
our own legal system. Of course we need to straighten them out. All
I’m saying is that those who can’t see the speck in their own eyes
should really look in the mirror before criticizing us.
The EU progress report also contains an expression of the EU desire for
Turkey to open up its air and sea ports to Southern Cypriot airplanes
and ships.
This desire is understandable, since Turkey, in order for the EU
accession talks to start up in December 2004, gave its word to follow
the 1963 Ankara and 1996 Customs Union agreements as they pertain to
Southern Cyprus. It gave its word, true, although before that point,
there was a promise from the EU that isolationary measures against
Northern Cyprus would be lifted with a resounding “yes” to the Annan
Plan. And now the EU, which was not able to keep its previously
made promise, wants Turkey to keep its part of the promise, also
previously made.
Do these Europeans think they are the smartest people in the world?
A person can want demand certain things, but only if they are in the
right position…..

GEORGIA NOT TO YIELD GAS PIPELINES TO RUSSIA
Kommersant, Russia
Nov 9 2006
Gazprom proposed to Georgia to purchase some of its gas pipelines and
cut by half gas prices for Georgia in return for it. It also warned
to terminate gas supplies January 1, 2007 if no contract is made.
Georgia responded by calling the proposals political blackmail and
its prosecutors set to arresting local gas traders.
Yesterday, a raft of high-ranked bureaucrats of Georgia, including
State Minister Kakha Bendukidze and Parliament’s Speaker Nino
Burdjanadze, emphatically denied the proposals of Alexander Medvedev,
deputy chairman of Gazprom’s management committee. Medvedev suggested
cutting by half future gas prices for Georgia, from $230/ths cu meters
to today’s $110/ths cu meters, if Georgia agrees to sell some portion
of gas pipeline infrastructure to Gazprom.
We were ready for surprises, but it is the political blackmail and
we won’t yield to it, vowed Georgian Premier Zurab Nogaideli.
Of all CIS countries that faced such proposal of Gazprom, only Armenia
has agreed to it. According to news service of Armenia’s government,
by late this year, they will elaborate procedures for transferring
Iran-Armenia’s gas pipeline under control of Armrosgazprom. Gazprom
will own 58 percent in this company once it buys out new stocks for
a total worth of $118.8 million.
The asset will allow Gazprom to control gas supplies to Georgia from
Iran. When the gas monopoly of Russia fixes a single basic rate of
$230/ths cu meters for Transcaucasia, it will be able to present it
as an economically reasonable price.
Further aggravating the energy clashes, Georgian prosecutors set to
detaining traders of Russia’s gas. Revaz Urushadze, general director of
Georgian National Gas Transport Co., and Alexander Dolidze, an employee
of this company, were arrested Wednesday on charges of corrupt deals,
which led to material damage to Georgia’s budget.

DEMOCRATS WIN CONTROL OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ARMENIAN CAUCUS MEMBER REP. PELOSI SET TO BECOME SPEAKER
DeFacto Agency, Armenia
Nov 9 2006
The balance of power shifted in Washington yesterday as Democrats
took control over the House of Representatives, paving the way for
Armenian Caucus Member Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to become the first
female Speaker of the House. Pelosi’s anticipated rise, coupled with
the likelihood of numerous Caucus Democrats picking up important
leadership positions, will expand the scope and influence of this
important body in the next congressional session.
According to the information DE FACTO got at the Armenian Assembly of
America (AAA), as a part of that power shift, House Speaker Dennis
Hastert (R-Ill) will pass the Speaker’s gavel to Pelosi, making
her the first Armenian Caucus Member to hold that position. Pelosi
has a strong record of support on Armenian-American issues and has
regularly called on the Administration to properly acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide. She is currently a cosponsor of H. Res. 316 – a
bill that affirms the attempted annihilation of the Armenian people as
genocide. Last year, Pelosi participated in a Capitol Hill observance
of the 90th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide and in April 2001,
spoke on the floor of the House saying that “the Armenian Genocide
is a historical fact. The Republic of Turkey has adamantly refused to
acknowledge that the Genocide happened on its soil, but the evidence
is irrefutable….We must learn from the past and never forget the
victims of the Armenian Genocide.”
Additionally, Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) will run for Majority
Leader, and if elected, will be another Caucus first. Like Pelosi,
Hoyer has co-sponsored legislation reaffirming the Genocide and has
given commemoration addresses to Congress during the month of April.
In total, some 50 Democratic Armenian Caucus Members are positioned
to take over important leadership positions and full committee
chairmanships including Representatives Charles Rangel (NY) House
Ways and Means, John Dingell (MI) Energy and Commerce and others.
The majority of Armenian Caucus Members were re-elected including
Co-Chairs Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ).
“The Assembly congratulates Armenian-American supporters in the Senate
and House on their victory and looks forward to reaching out to new
members in the coming year,” said Assembly Executive Director Bryan
Ardouny. “To that end, we also encourage Armenian Americans to join
us in our outreach efforts and build on our advocacy successes in
the current Congress.”
When Congress returns next week for the lame duck session, several
outstanding items remain including the rail legislation, appropriations
funding for Armenia and Karabakh, as well as the confirmation process
for Ambassador-designate Richard E. Hoagland.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE STRATEGIC KARS-AKHALKALAKI RAILWAY TO START IN 2007
By Taleh Ziyadov
Eurasia Daily Monitor, DC
Nov 9 2006
For almost a year, officials from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey
have been engaged in intense discussions about ways to finance the
construction of the strategic Kars-Akhalkalaki railway system. This
rail link will bridge the gap between the Georgian and Turkish rail
networks, permitting an uninterrupted flow of cargo from markets in
Asia to Europe or vice versa.
Earlier this year, a Turkish firm completed a feasibility study of the
Kars-Akhalkalaki project. Soon after, Turkey announced that it would
finance the construction of the 68-kilometer portion of the railway
on its territory ($200 million). Azerbaijan also stated its readiness
to allocate funds for the project, while Georgia remained undecided.
It took several high level-meetings and intense negotiations among
the three countries to hammer out the remaining differences. The
major problem has been the source of funds for the construction and
rehabilitation work in the Georgian segment of the railway.
A 220-kilometer (137 mile) portion of the railroad (from the
Georgian-Turkish border to Tbilisi) runs through in Georgia. Some 30
kilometers (18 miles) of this rail link will be built from scratch,
while the remaining 190 kilometers needs modernization. The estimated
cost of the Kars-Akhalkalaki project is $450 million, of which $220
million will be spent for work in Georgia.
In a September 25 interview with a local newspaper, a high-ranking
Turkish diplomat complained that Tbilisi “intentionally delays
the construction of the [Kars-Akhalkalaki] railroad” (Azeri Press
Agency, September 25). “Georgia is posing bureaucratic obstacles to
the construction of the railway. We cannot understand [Georgia],”
stated the unnamed diplomat.
The reason for delay, however, is related to negotiations between
official Baku and Tbilisi. Because the major construction and
rehabilitation work is to take place in Georgia and Turkey, the
Georgian government had to bear at least half of the cost of the
project. This created financial problems for Georgia, which does
not have vast natural resources like Azerbaijan or a strong economy
like Turkey.
The issue became more complicated when the Georgian government’s
major financial donor, the United States, was taken out of the
funding picture.
On September 30, Armenian lobbying groups managed to include a
prohibition provision (Section 11) in the U.S. Senate resolution S.
3938, the Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006. The bill
prohibits the U.S. ExImBank from extending a credit or participating
in “any railway connection or railway-related connection [project]
that does not traverse or connect with Armenia,” thus eliminating
any possibility of credit from the U.S. government to Georgia.
Nonetheless, on September 12, the general director of JSC Georgian
railways, Irakly Ezugbaiya, declared that Azerbaijan had agreed
to allocate a credit in the amount of $220 million to the Georgian
government.
Confirmation of this offer came after Georgian Minister of Economic
Development Irakli Chogovadze visited Baku on October 12-14. After
trilateral discussions with Turkish and Azerbaijani officials,
Chogovadze confirmed that the Georgian government would finance the
project using long-term and zero-interest credit from Azerbaijan
(Trend, October 13). The funding will come from the International
Bank of Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijani government. The amount of the
credit will be determined in early 2007 (Sharg, October 14).
In addition to Azerbaijan’s credit to Georgia, China has offered a
13-year loan with a 5.5% interest rate to Turkey. But Ankara declined
the offer, stating that it has sufficient funds to finance the project
by itself (Trend, August 28).
The construction of the railway is scheduled to begin in 2007 with
an expected completion date at the end of 2008. Georgia alone is
expected to earn $150 million annually from the cargo shipments via
the Kars-Akhalkalaki rail connection (Today.az, September 7).
According to Turkish Minister of Transportation, Binali Yildirim,
the railway system could accommodate a transfer of as much as 20
million tons of cargo per year (Trend, August 28). Other estimates
put the volume of cargo in the initial stage at 2-4 million, with a
potential to increase up to 8-10 million in the following three years
(BakuToday.net, April 20).
Besides the strategic importance of the Kars-Akhalkalaki rail
connection, linking the railway networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey
— and potentially Europe, Central Asia, and China — the project
has a great significance for the development of the regional economies.
Due to the landlocked geography of the Caspian Basin, strengthening the
non-oil economies of countries like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan,
and Turkmenistan depends on increased volumes of intercontinental
container trade via their territories. Moreover, initiatives
such as creating free-economic zones in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and
other countries along the Caspian Sea coast will also depend on the
successful development of the infrastructure and interstate rail and
highway systems in these countries.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

SPEAKERS OF PARLIAMENTS OF “CAUCASUS FOUR” TO COME TOGETHER
Author: S.Agayeva
TREND Information, Azerbaijan
Nov 9 2006
The next meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the CIS
countries has been scheduled to take place in Saint-Petersburg
on November 15-17, Trend reports with reference to the website
of the Assembly. The meeting is expected to cover the improvement
and reformation of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), 15th
anniversary of the CIS, precepts and results of co-operation within
the Commonwealth. It is planned to adopt a number of documents,
especially eight laws linked with the security, recommendations
regarding migration, several legal documents including ecological,
water and education codes.
In addition, within the meeting of the Assembly, it is expected to
hold the meeting of the “Caucasus four” – heads of the parliaments of
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and Russia. This meeting is expected to
bring together the Chairman of the Russian State Duma Sergey Mironov,
Chairman of the Azerbaijani Parliament Oktay Asadov, Georgian Speaker
Nino Burdjanadze and Armenian – Tigran Torosyan.

AZERBAIJAN: PRESIDENT ALIYEV WALKS TIGHTROPE BETWEEN RUSSIA, WEST
By Valentinas Mite
Radio Free Europe, Czech Rep.
Nov 9 2006
PRAGUE, November 9, 2006 (RFE/RL) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev
visited Moscow today on the heels of a trip to Brussels during which he
signed a memorandum on cooperation in energy with the European Union.
Ahead of the visit, President Vladimir Putin officially gave his stamp
of approval to his Azerbaijani counterpart’s visit to EU headquarters
and NATO.
“I would like to congratulate you on your successful visit to
Brussels,” Putin said. “I know, indeed, the visit was very practical,
concrete. Important agreements have been made regarding Azerbaijan’s
participation in European efforts in the energy field.”
Behind The Scene
But some observers believe that away from the microphone, Putin cannot
have much good to say about Azerbaijan’s efforts to curry favor in
the West.
Ali Kerimli, who heads leading Azerbaijani opposition party Popular
Front, says the issue was sure to be a hot topic during today’s talks.
“Every year it is becoming more and more difficult for Aliyev to stay
in two places at the same time,” Kerimli said. “To be at a friend,
a satellite, a supporter of the authoritarian Russia, and at the same
time to participate in all the NATO and EU integration programs.”
A commentary in the Russian daily “Kommersant” on November 9 suggested
that, as compensation for this policy, Russia might ask Azerbaijan to
participate in an energy blockade of Georgia. The daily wrote that
the Kremlin is prepared to offer Russian investment in Azerbaijan’s
energy sector and also to supply Russian armaments at a discount.
Relations between Russia and Azerbaijan, branded as a “strategic
partnership,” are complicated.
The Karabakh Card
Shain Abbasov, an independent analyst based in Baku, says many in
Azerbaijan believe that the resolution of Azerbaijan’s conflict
with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh is in the hands of Moscow, not in
the West.
Nagorno-Karabakh has been under the control of Armenia since a 1994
cease-fire ended a six-year war. Russia plays a key mediating role
as the sides try to come to an agreement on the region’s final status.
However, Kerimli has said the conflict serves Moscow by helping Russia
to preserve its influence in both Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Analyst Abbasov says the Kremlin’s policy toward Armenia, a Russian
ally, remains more benign than toward Azerbaijan.
“Armenia is a traditional Russian ally in the southern Caucasus,”
Abbasov said. “You know that Azerbaijan is a member of GUAM, which
in principle is considered to be an anti-Russian political grouping
and nobody tries to hide it very much. So there is no doubt that
Azerbaijan is trying differently from Armenia to balance its foreign
policy between the West and Russia.”
Analysts have also suggested that some practices in Azerbaijan —
antidemocratic ones — serve to bring it closer to Russia than
the West.
Everything Under Control
Abbasov, for example, says Aliyev is clearly following Russia’s model
of “controlled democracy.”
Azerbaijani police breaking up an opposition demonstration in November
2005 (AFP)”In fact, Azerbaijan is clearly following the Russian way,
the way of Putin’s democracy,” he said. “It is under way already
now. There is no question which way Azerbaijan might choose.
Aliyev’s administration has already made a choice, and we are already
heading down this road. You can see all this pressure on the press,
a very strict authoritarian way of rule and so on. In fact, we have
a very similar situation as in Russia.”
As for other topics, economic issues were likely on today’s agenda —
including natural-gas prices. .
Moscow could threaten, as it has done to other neighboring states
of late, to raise considerably the price of its gas exports to
Azerbaijan. But the move might not provide much leverage in getting
Baku to avoid making overtures to the West. Azerbaijan uses only an
estimated 10.5 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year, and only
1.5 billion of that is imported from Russia.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

KASHATAGH REGION IS BECOMING EMPTY
A1+
[01:24 pm] 09 November, 2006
We would like to draw your attention to a recent series of reports
that have appeared in both the Armenian and Diasporan press focusing
on the worsening socio-economic situation in the Kashatagh region. As
a result, Armenians are leaving this vitally strategic area in
increasing numbers.
When the Karabagh war ended, Armenians the world over heaved a
collective sigh of relief and jubilation.
After years of struggle and much sacrifice, Artsakh was once again
delivered into the hands of its rightful owners. So too had Kashatagh
(Lachin), the lands once artificially separating Armenia from Artsakh,
been liberated.
But Kashatagh needed an influx of Armenians to make the land flourish
once again. Therefore, in 1994, Armenia initiated a much-heralded
policy of repopulating Kashatagh and its environs. Primarily, Armenian
refugees from Azerbaijan and other indigent families from Armenia were
encouraged to move to Kashatagh with promises of generous financial
and material assistance.
Many did heed the call and moved to Kashatagh. Given the fact that
Armenia itself was in dire financial straits at the time, this
initiative was both commendable and noble. According to various
sources, Kashatagh’s repopulation reached a peak of about 20,000 in
the late 1990s.
Today, however, the remaining population has dipped below 10,000. Some
say it has reached a low of 7,000.
In the last few years, authorities of the NKR have taken over the
governance of Kashatagh from Armenia, and yet the situation has
continued to deteriorate.
Armenians who initially were encouraged to move there now feel a
sense of neglect and isolation.
Surprisingly, some news reports cite the fact that many local officials
agree that the situation in Kashatagh needs immediate attention. We
fear that if conditions do not improve, we soon might be facing an
area of land devoid of Armenians. No one wants this to happen.
We the undersigned find it troubling that the responsible authorities
in Armenia and Karabakh seem to be indifferent to the unfolding tragedy
in Kashatagh. Therefore, we ask that your respective governments
analyze the situation and take the necessary measures to ameliorate
the conditions faced by the residents of Kashatagh and thus reverse
the present exodus from the region.
We also ask that your governments clarify their positions regarding
the resettlement policy in Kashatagh. Unfortunately, many Armenians
there believe they have been betrayed and are to be used as pawns in
future political negotiations. The Armenians of Kashatagh deserve to
know where they stand.
As Armenians concerned with the plight of our compatriots in
Kashatagh we can no longer remain silent when faced with the inaction,
mismanagement, and dare we say, corruption, that is the hallmark of
many local officials in Kashatagh. “Business as usual” should not be
tolerated and we urge you to take appropriate and quick action.

PUTIN INVITED ALIYEV TO MOSCOW
A1+
[02:22 pm] 09 November, 2006
Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, is currently in Moscow on
working visit. Today, he is to meet with Vladimir Putin, President
of Russia.
The official sources don’t reveal the details as it is a working visit.
But the Russian media claims that the parties will discuss the possible
increase of the gas price imported to Azerbaijan. The two presidents
will also refer to the Karabakh conflict settlement.
Aliyev will stay in Moscow till November 10.
Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow from Brussels where he discussed
the prospects of Azerbaijan’s integration to the European Union
and NATO. Reminder: Ilham Aliyev is in Moscow on the invitation of
Vladimir Putin.